The United Nations’ UNICEF has reported that extreme heat endangers millions of children, with almost half a billion now experiencing twice as many extremely hot days each year compared to what their grandparents had experienced when faced. This alarming increase in heat poses serious risks to their health.
On August 13th, the UN’s children’s agency, UNICEF, highlighted in a report that as global temperatures rise due to climate change, one in five children—around 466 million—live in regions that see at least double the number of especially hot days every year compared to 60 years ago.
Young children’s bodies are not just smaller versions of adults. They are much more vulnerable to extreme heat, UNICEF’s advocacy chief, Lily Caprani, told AFP. She also cautioned that pregnant women face serious risks in such conditions.
High temperatures have forced schools to close, disrupting education for at least 80 million children in 2024 alone. When schools shut down due to extreme heat, children miss out on valuable learning opportunities.
Children in West and Central Africa are most affected
UNICEF used days with temperatures of 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) as a benchmark, comparing average temperatures from the 2020 to 2024 time period to those in the 1960s.
The agency pointed out that these extremely hot days, along with challenges such as limited access to air conditioning, impact people worldwide.
Children in West and Central Africa are most affected. In this region, 123 million children—about 39 percent of the kids there—face 95-degree Fahrenheit days or higher for a third of each year.
One in 5 children – or 466 million – live in areas that experience at least double the number of extremely hot
days every year compared to just six decades ago.
Eight countries, including Mali, Niger, Senegal, South Sudan and Sudan, are home to #children who spend more than… pic.twitter.com/J3H6hvbMbY
— Dr Alexey Kulikov (@KulikovUNIATF) August 19, 2024
Moreover, in countries such as Mali, where air conditioning is a luxury few can afford and power outages often stop fans from working, temperatures can soar to 95 degrees Fahrenheit or higher on more than 200 days each year.
In Latin America, 48 million children are now facing twice as many 95-degree Fahrenheit days compared to 60 years ago.
Globally, the situation is deteriorating for these children, according to Caprani. She explained that children are particularly vulnerable because they breathe more quickly and don’t sweat like adults do, making them more prone to heat stress, which can be fatal.
Extreme heat linked to child malnutrition
UNICEF warned that high temperatures can lead to child malnutrition and make children more susceptible to diseases like malaria and dengue, which thrive in warm climates. Excessive heat can also harm brain development and mental health in children.
UNICEF is urging more education for parents on recognizing heat stroke symptoms, improved training for healthcare workers, and air conditioning in schools. Even when schools stay open, learning can be difficult in hot classrooms.
However, the larger challenge remains in addressing climate change, driven by the continued use of fossil fuels.
