One of every five children globally live in areas that now experience at least double the number of extremely hot days – more than 35° Celsius (95° Fahrenheit) – compared to six decades ago, according to a new analysis.
What's new: The analysis on Wednesday by UNICEF and Sweden's Karolinska Institute compares 1960s and 2020-2024 temperature averages, quickly and widespread rising temperatures from climate change have become an increasing threat to 466 million of the world's 2 billion children. Children in eight African countries, including Mali, Niger, Senegal, South Sudan and Sudan, spend more than half the year in temperatures above 35° C. “The hottest summer days now seem normal,” says UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Extreme heat is increasing, disrupting children’s health, well-being and daily routines.”
What's next: Many children will suffer due to a lack of infrastructure or services to endure the extreme heat, UNICEF says, and in 16 countries children will experience more than a month of additional extremely hot days compared to six decades ago. In South Sudan, for example, children will live through a yearly average of 165 extremely hot days this decade, up from 110 days in the 1960s; in Paraguay, it will be 71 days, up from 36. Across 100 countries, more than half of all children will experience twice as many heatwaves as 60 years ago. In the United States, 36 million children will be exposed to double the number of heatwaves compared to 60 years ago, and 5.7 million will be exposed to three times as many.
What's important: Heat stress impacts neurodevelopment, mental health, and well-being, and contributes to child malnutrition and leaves children more vulnerable to infectious diseases that spread in high temperatures such as malaria and dengue. It also threatens pregnant women, who can face complications such as gestational chronic diseases, stillbirth, low birth weight, and preterm birth. “Children are not little adults. Their bodies are far more vulnerable to extreme heat. Young bodies heat up faster, and cool down more slowly," Russell says. "Extreme heat is especially risky for babies due to their faster heart rate, so rising temperatures are even more alarming for children."
Who's involved: Globally, children in West and Central Africa face the highest exposure to extremely hot days and the most significant increases over time, according to the analysis. Some 123 million children, or 39% in the region, will experience an average of at least 95 days in temperatures above 35° C., reaching as many as 212 days in Mali, 202 days in Niger, 198 days in Senegal, and 195 days in Sudan. In Latin America and the Caribbean, almost 48 million children live in areas that will experience twice the number of extremely hot days.
What's happening now: Nations are required to submit climate plans under the 2015 Paris Agreement that commit them to act over the next decade. UNICEF calls on governments and businesses to deliver "urgent and bold climate action which upholds the right of every child to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment" through cuts in carbon emissions and more social services and education.
