Le Parisien Links Climate Disasters to Child Marriage in 36% of 5,000-Girl Survey
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 14
Le Parisien Links Climate Disasters to Child Marriage in 36% of 5,000-Girl Survey
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 14
Summary
Le Parisien said climate-related disasters are accelerating child marriage in developing countries, citing cases in Bangladesh and Kenya involving girls as young as 12.
Plan International’s 2026 survey of 5,000 girls and young women across five countries found 36% reported increased child marriage after climate disasters, while 11% said they had personally experienced it.
Bangladesh examples in the report tied marriages to cyclone-driven shocks: one 12-year-old was reportedly married four days after harassment in a shelter, and 15-year-old Runa was married off after a cyclone wiped out family income.
The report drew pushback from Moms for Liberty’s Tina Descovich, who said blaming climate change shifts responsibility away from people and ideologies that exploit children.
Bangladesh already had high child-marriage rates before the report—UNICEF said 47.2% of women aged 20 to 24 were married before 18 in 2025—and the survey shows correlation rather than direct proof climate change caused individual marriages.