Half of World Lacks Social Protection Amid Climate Crisis, ILO Warns
A new report from the International Labour Organization (ILO) reveals that half of the global population lacks social protection, exacerbating vulnerabilities amid the escalating climate crisis. Over 90% of individuals in climate-vulnerable countries are without any safety net, highlighting a critical gap in support for those most affected by environmental changes.
According to the World Social Protection Report 2024-26, only 50% of the global population has access to at least one social protection benefit, leaving 3.8 billion people, including 1.8 billion children, without coverage. ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo emphasized the urgency of addressing these disparities, stating, “The climate crisis affects us all and represents the single, gravest threat to social justice today.”
The report indicates that while 52.4% of the world now has some form of social protection—up from 42.8% in 2015—91.3% of people in the 20 most climate-vulnerable countries remain unprotected. This stark divide reflects a deeply unequal global landscape, with 75% of individuals in the 50 most climate-vulnerable nations lacking any form of social safety net.
Children are disproportionately affected, with 76.1% lacking effective social protection coverage. Moreover, significant gender disparities persist, with women’s coverage lagging behind men’s by over 50%.
The ILO calls for urgent policy action and increased investment in social protection systems to address these gaps and support climate adaptation. Currently, low-income countries allocate only 0.8% of their GDP to social protection, necessitating an additional $308.5 billion annually to provide basic coverage. The report stresses that universal social protection is not only ethical but essential for a sustainable and just transition to a greener economy.
