Le Parisien, a French newspaper, recently reported that climate change is contributing to an increase in child marriages in developing nations, particularly involving girls as young as 12. The report highlights how natural disasters are compelling impoverished families to marry off their daughters at younger ages due to economic pressures.
The article, titled “She was only 12: Climate change, a new accelerator of child marriage,” draws direct connections between climate-related disasters and early marriages in countries like Bangladesh and Kenya. According to the newspaper, these disasters destroy incomes and homes, forcing some families to resort to early marriages.
The French newspaper’s findings were largely based on a 2026 report by Plan International. The report explored the link between climate-related disasters and child marriage, revealing that 36% of 5,000 girls and young women surveyed across Bangladesh, Kenya, Peru, Senegal, and Zimbabwe noted an increase in child marriages following such disasters. Additionally, 11% reported personal experiences of child marriage.
“Blaming climate change for the abhorrent practice of marrying off girls as young as 12 sounds absolutely wild, but it’s just the latest excuse for disgusting behavior,” commented Tina Descovich, CEO of Moms for Liberty, to Fox News Digital.
Despite this controversy, Plan International’s research indicates that financial stress, often triggered by climate disasters, is a critical factor. These disasters place significant pressure on families, especially those reliant on agriculture and livestock, leading to a higher incidence of child marriages.
For example, a case was highlighted involving a 12-year-old girl from Bangladesh who was married off after enduring harassment in a cyclone shelter. Similarly, a 15-year-old, known as Runa, described how a cyclone led her mother to arrange her marriage due to financial hardship. Although her education was initially interrupted, Runa later resumed her studies with aid from organizations.
Child marriage is a deep-rooted issue in Bangladesh, as shown by UNICEF’s 2025 survey indicating that 47.2% of women aged 20 to 24 were married before turning 18. This represents a slight decrease from 51.4% in 2019. Factors like poverty, gender norms, traditional practices, educational barriers, and climate-related disasters all contribute to this problem.
The Child Marriage Restraint Act of 2017 in Bangladesh generally prohibits marriages for girls under 18 but makes exceptions with parental consent and court approval in special cases.
According to Plan International’s representative Tanushree Soni, climate disasters intensify financial difficulties for families, particularly those reliant on agriculture and livestock. Soni explained, “Financial stress is the trigger; families look to lessen the burden because they don’t consider girls to be part of their own families.”
While the research shows a connection between climate disasters and child marriage, it does not definitively verify that human-caused climate change directly instigated the cases mentioned in the report.