Extreme Heat Exposure on the Rise for Millions of Kids: UN

AFP/APP

New York: Nearly half a billion children are facing twice as many days of extreme heat each year—or more—than their grandparents did, the UN reported Tuesday, warning of deadly consequences.

As climate change continues to drive up global temperatures, one in five children—approximately 466 million—live in areas experiencing “at least double the number of extremely hot days every year” compared to 60 years ago, according to UNICEF.

“The bodies of young children are not like little adults; they have much more vulnerability to extreme heat,” said UNICEF advocacy chief Lily Caprani in an interview with AFP. She also highlighted the dangers for pregnant women.

Additionally, children miss out on education when schools are forced to close due to high temperatures—affecting at least 80 million children in 2024 alone.

UNICEF used days reaching 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) as its benchmark, comparing average temperatures from 2020-2024 to those of the 1960s. Such hot days, as well as the ability to cope with high temperatures (e.g., air conditioning), affect the entire world.

Children in West and Central Africa are the most exposed, with 123 million children—39% of the region’s total—facing a third of the year with days reaching 95 degrees or higher. In countries like Mali, where air conditioning is often inaccessible and blackouts can leave fans useless, more than 200 days a year can exceed 95 degrees.

In Latin America, 48 million children are facing double the number of days with temperatures of 95 degrees or higher compared to 60 years ago.

Worldwide, “the trajectory is getting worse and worse for these children,” Caprani stated. She added that children “are fragile, breathe very quickly, and can’t even sweat like adults. They are much more vulnerable to heat stress, which can be literally deadly.”

High temperatures can contribute to child malnutrition and leave children more susceptible to diseases like malaria and dengue, which spread more easily in warm climates, UNICEF warned. Excessive heat can also negatively impact neurodevelopment and mental health.

UNICEF is calling for increased education for parents to recognize the signs of heat stroke, better training for medical personnel, and investment in air conditioning for schools—where, even if classes aren’t canceled, learning can be severely impacted by hot conditions.

However, the larger focus remains on addressing climate change, driven by humanity’s reliance on fossil fuels. “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,” said UNICEF chief Catherine Russell in a statement.