Heat Exposure on the Rise for Kids Around the World
As global temperatures continue rising at an alarming rate, millions more children worldwide are now facing increased risks from extreme heat every year. Data from the United Nations shows that due to climate change, nearly 100 million more kids experienced severe heatwaves in 2020 compared to just four years ago. With heatwaves and hotter summers becoming more frequent and intense due to manmade emissions, safety of children should be an urgent priority in the ongoing climate crisis.
The UN report analyzed temperature and population data between 2016 to 2020. It estimates that in 2020, around 300 million kids worldwide were subjected to severe heatwaves annually on average. This marks a massive jump from 2016, when only 203 million children faced comparable heat exposure levels. South Asia and Western sub-Saharan Africa saw the biggest increase in numbers of children at the receiving end of extreme heat. If global warming continues unabated, such trends indicate the risks to kids will only multiply in the coming decades.
Prolonged heat exposure increases risks of illnesses like heatstrokes, especially in young children. Their immature physiology makes them more susceptible to dehydration and heat-related disorders compared to adults. Lack of access to cooling and shade in many parts of the developing world exacerbates vulnerabilities. Rising heat also poses indirect threats like worsening air pollution, reduced food production, conflicts and altered spread of diseases. All of these disproportionately impact child health and development.
With the climate crisis showing no signs of slowing, protecting children from its cascading impacts must be a global priority. Governments need urgent action on emissions cuts and community support during heatwaves. More research is also required to fully understand dangers that extreme heat poses to developing bodies and minds of children worldwide. Their future depends on ambitious climate action taken right now to save the one planet they have.
