A recent analysis by UNICEF has revealed that one in five children worldwide — equivalent to 466 million young lives — are now enduring double the number of extremely hot days each year compared to their grandparents’ generation.
This alarming rise in temperature is taking a toll on children’s health, well-being, and daily lives, according to UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
“Extreme heat is increasing, disrupting children’s health, well-being, and daily routines,” said Russell.
The UNICEF study conducted a comparative analysis of temperature data from the 1960s with that from the period between 2020 and 2024. The focus was on days where temperatures exceeded 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).
The findings are sobering, highlighting a rapid and widespread increase in such days for nearly half a billion children globally — many of whom lack the necessary infrastructure and services to cope with this relentless heat.
Country-Specific Insights
A closer look at the country-level data presents an even more concerning picture. In 16 countries, children are now experiencing over a month more extreme heat days annually than their counterparts did six decades ago.
For instance, in South Sudan, the average number of extremely hot days per year has surged from 110 in the 1960s to 165 today.
Paraguay has seen a similar trend, with the number of extremely hot days jumping from 36 to 71.
The situation is particularly dire in West and Central Africa, where children face the highest exposure to extremely hot days and the most significant increases over time.
The analysis reveals that 123 million children — or 39% of the region’s child population — now endure temperatures above 35°C for more than a third of the year.
In some countries, the situation is even graver: children in Mali experience up to 212 days of extreme heat annually, while in Niger, Senegal, and Sudan, the numbers stand at 202, 198, and 195 days, respectively.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, nearly 48 million children are living in areas that have seen a doubling of extremely hot days.
Children’s Unique Vulnerabilities
Children are particularly susceptible to the dangers of extreme heat, with their bodies less equipped to handle such conditions than adults.
“Children are not little adults. Their bodies are far more vulnerable to extreme heat. Young bodies heat up faster and cool down more slowly. Extreme heat is especially risky for babies due to their faster heart rate, so rising temperatures are even more alarming for children.”
Catherine Russell
Exposure to extreme heat can lead to heat stress, which poses serious risks to children’s health. These include an increased likelihood of malnutrition, heat-related illnesses, and vulnerability to infectious diseases such as malaria and dengue, which thrive in higher temperatures.
Moreover, there is growing evidence that extreme heat can negatively impact neurodevelopment, mental health, and overall well-being in children.
The dangers are not limited to children alone. Pregnant women are also particularly vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat.
Heat stress has been linked to various pregnancy complications, including chronic diseases, stillbirth, low birth weight, and preterm birth.
A Call to Action
The release of this analysis comes at a crucial time. In the coming months, all countries committed to the Paris Agreement on climate change will be submitting new national climate plans.
These plans will outline the course of climate action for the next decade, representing a critical opportunity to address the growing threat of extreme heat.
UNICEF is urging leaders, governments, and the private sector to seize this moment to take bold and urgent climate action. The goal is to ensure that every child has the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
“As governments are currently drafting their national climate action plans, they can do so with the ambition and knowledge that today’s children and future generations will have to live in the world they leave behind,” Russell concluded.
This call to action underscores the urgency of addressing climate change not just as an environmental issue, but as a matter of children’s rights and survival.
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