The Children's Climate Vulnerability Index: An Integrated Approach to Assessing Climate Risk—Evidence From India

Children are particularly vulnerable to climate‐related risks due to their biological sensitivity, their dependence on societal systems, and their limited ability to adapt to the stressors posed by the environment. This study assesses the climate risk and the resulting vulnerability of children at the state level in India with the Children's Climate Vulnerability Index (CCVI). Drawing on the IPCC vulnerability framework, the index combines measures of household‐reported and perceived climatic and environmental exposure, child‐specific sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The CCVI is applied to four Indian states—Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand—that represent different climatic regimes and socioeconomic contexts. Results show substantial variation in children's climate vulnerability despite similar levels of exposure; sensitivity is the main driver of vulnerability in all states. Health, nutrition, and education‐related sensitivities consistently outweigh the impact of climatic hazards, while adaptive capacity has limited power to offset these pressures. By linking vulnerability patterns to child development outcomes, the study shows that children's climate risk is shaped more by developmental and institutional conditions than by hazard intensity alone. The findings underscore the need for child‐focused, multi‐sectoral adaptation strategies that combine action with health, nutrition, education, and social protection policies.