A recent report from the French newspaper Le Parisien has sparked debate by suggesting that climate change accelerates child marriages in developing countries, involving girls as young as 12. The report highlights cases in Bangladesh, Kenya, and other regions, linking natural disasters with increased rates of child marriage.
Disasters and Early Marriages
According to Le Parisien, climate disasters in Bangladesh, Kenya, and elsewhere exacerbate the prevalence of child marriages. These events devastate incomes and homes, pushing families to marry off daughters at younger ages. The article cites Plan International’s research, which surveyed 5,000 girls and young women in several countries. Of those surveyed, 36% noted a rise in child marriages following climate-related disasters, and 11% experienced it personally.
Criticism and Counterarguments
Tina Descovich, CEO of Moms for Liberty, critiqued the newspaper’s report. She dismissed climate change as an ‘absurd excuse’ for child marriage. Descovich argued that blaming external factors like the environment shifts attention from those exploiting children. She emphasized the importance of strong families, parental rights, and accountability in protecting children.
Individual Cases and Reports
Le Parisien featured cases illustrating the link between climate events and child marriage. In Bangladesh, a 12-year-old girl was married off after being harassed in a cyclone shelter. Another case involved Runa, a 15-year-old girl who was married after a cyclone destroyed her family’s livelihood. While Runa initially had to leave school, aid organizations helped her resume her education.
UNICEF’s 2025 survey found that 47.2% of Bangladeshi women aged 20 to 24 were married before 18, down from 51.4% in 2019. This indicates ongoing prevalence.
Economic Pressures and Practices
Plan International maintains that climate disasters add financial pressure, especially on families reliant on agriculture and livestock. Tanushree Soni from Plan International stated that financial stress often compels families to marry off daughters.
Bangladesh’s 2017 Child Marriage Restraint Act prohibits girls from marrying before 18 but includes allowances with parental consent under special circumstances.
The survey does not confirm that climate change caused every marriage mentioned in the report,
the text concludes, indicating complexity in attributing climate change as the sole factor.
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