Climate Change Impacts on Child Marriages

French newspaper Le Parisien reported a troubling connection between climate change and the rise of child marriages in developing countries. According to the report, natural disasters stemming from climate change are driving impoverished families to marry off their daughters at younger ages. The newspaper cited cases of girls as young as 12 being forced into marriage in Bangladesh, Kenya, and other countries.

A translated passage from Le Parisien states: “In Bangladesh, Kenya, and elsewhere, climate disasters are worsening child marriages by destroying incomes and homes, prompting some families to marry off their daughters at increasingly younger ages.” This claim was met with criticism from Moms for Liberty CEO and co-founder Tina Descovich, who accused the report of using climate change as an excuse for a practice that exploits children.

Blaming climate change for marrying off girls as young as 12 seems absolutely wild, noted Descovich. It’s shifting responsibility from exploitative individuals and ideologies onto environmental factors.

Le Parisien’s piece references a report by Plan International which surveyed 5,000 young women across Bangladesh, Kenya, Peru, Senegal, and Zimbabwe. It found that 36% observed increased child marriage following climate-related disasters, while 11% had personally experienced it.

Additional cases were discussed, such as a 12-year-old Bangladeshi girl forced into marriage following harassment in a cyclone shelter, and Runa, a 15-year-old who married after a cyclone devastated her family’s livelihood. Runa, who wished to continue her education, shared her experience in an interview, expressing feelings of sadness and helplessness over the decision. Fortunately, with aid organization support and her husband’s family’s consent, she returned to school.

Child marriage prevalence in Bangladesh was highlighted, with UNICEF’s 2025 survey recording 47.2% of women aged 20 to 24 marrying before age 18, though a slight decrease from 2019’s 51.4%. Factors contributing to child marriage in Bangladesh include poverty, entrenched gender norms, harmful traditional practices, barriers to education, and climate-related disasters.

The 2017 Child Marriage Restraint Act in Bangladesh generally prohibits marriage for girls under 18 but allows exceptions under special circumstances with parental consent and court approval.

Plan International explained that climate-related disasters bring additional financial pressure, especially for families reliant on agriculture and livestock. Tanushree Soni, a Plan International representative, asserted that financial stress often triggers family decisions regarding child marriages.

The newspaper emphasized that, while weather-related disasters correlate with child marriage increases, the data do not conclusively link human-caused climate change directly to individual marriages. The role of economic, social, and educational factors remains significant.