A United Nations analysis reveals that millions of children around the world are at risk of heat-related problems, in part due to climate change.
While the world keeps getting hotnearly 500 million children They live in regions that experience at least twice as many extremely hot days as their grandparents. This is indicated by a new study by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The results highlight the rapid escalation of extreme heat episodes and reveal that one in five children (that is, about 466 million) is exposed every year to these often dangerous conditions.
UNICEF compared data from the 1960s to average temperatures from 2020-2024. In the process, they discovered a dramatic increase in the number of extremely hot daysdefined as those that exceed 35°C.
This trend represents a serious threat for many people, especially for children and other vulnerable groups who live in areas that lack the necessary infrastructure or services to cope with such extreme temperatures.
“What were once the hottest days of summer are now the norm“Catherine Russell, executive director of UNICEF, told ‘AfricaNews’. “This increase in extreme heat is disrupting the health, well-being and daily lives of children.”
Where are people most vulnerable to extreme heat?
UNICEF analysis shows that in 16 countries, children now endure more than a month of extra days of extreme heat each year compared to 60 years ago. In South Sudanthe average number of days of extreme heat went from 110 in the 1960s to 165 today. In Paraguaythat figure has almost doubled, going from 36 to 71.
Children who live in West and central Africa They are the ones most exposed to these dangerous hot days, and there are more and more of them. In that region alone, the analysis shows that some 123 million children (39%) experience extreme temperatures for more than a third of each year.
Los most affected countries son Senegal, Niger, Mali and Sudanwhere children are forced to endure an average of at least 195 days of extreme heat per year. Another 48 million children in Latin America and the Caribbean currently reside in areas where the number of days of extreme heat has doubled.
What damage can extreme heat cause to young people?
Exposure to extreme temperatures poses unique health risksespecially for the children and the pregnant women. Without adequate cooling interventions, rare in underdeveloped areas, the thermal stress can cause serious complicationsranging from malnutrition to increased vulnerability to diseases such as malaria and dengue.
Prolonged exposure to very high temperatures can also have long-term effects on neurodevelopmentthe mental health and the general well-being of the children. The impact of climate-related hazards on children is compounded by factors such as infrastructure damage, food and water insecurity, and displacement.
What can be done to alleviate the situation?
UNICEF makes a call to the world leaders already the Governmentsas well as private sectorto address the climate changewhich is usually the cause of extreme heatand do it quickly.
All Member States participating in the Paris Agreement are required to present new national climate plans (called Nationally Defined Contributions) in the coming months. These plans are expected to set the future of climate action in accordance with the terms of the Agreement.
UNICEF has reiterated its goals for all children, stating that they have the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. The organization has outlined its plans to achieve these objectives, starting with urgent need to reduce emissions and fulfill the goals international sustainabilityand climate change to stabilize the rise in temperatures.
He also wants adapt essential social services to withstand a changing climate and more frequent disasters along with environmental degradation. To help this transition, healthcare workers will be trained to detect and treat heat stress and make healthcare and educational facilities resilient to extreme heat.
UNICEF will also try to educate children from a young ageso that they become defenders of the environment for life. “Children are not just small adults; their bodies are much more vulnerable to extreme heat,” Russell added. “The increase in temperatures represents a special risk for childrenespecially for babies, whose bodies warm up faster and cool down more slowly.
“Governments have a critical opportunity to act nowwhen they develop their national climate action plans, to ensure that today’s children and future generations can thrive in the world we leave behind.
