Climate change exposes 580 million children to 20 extra ‘heat-stress days’ every year
A new study reveals that climate change is exposing over 580 million children to at least 20 additional 'heat-stress days' annually. The research highlights that children in developing regions like South Asia and West Africa are disproportionately affected.
Why it matters
It underscores the intergenerational inequality of climate change, where those least responsible for emissions face the highest health risks.
Share More than 40% of children under the age of 10 globally are already experiencing at least 20 additional “heat-stress days” due to climate change.
This is according to a new attribution study, published in Science Advances , which combines climate models with demographic data to assess the age groups and regions that are exposed to the most hot, humid days.
The study finds that children up to the age of nine already face more additional heat-stress days globally as a result of climate change than any other age group.
It adds that south Asia and west Africa are recording the greatest childhood exposure to dangerous levels of humid heat – largely because these regions have a rapidly growing population with the highest proportion of young children.
As the climate warms, children will continue to be more exposed to heat stress than any other age group, the paper warns.
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