4 days ago
Climate Change Exposes Millions Of Indian Children To Heat Stress
A new study looked at how climate change is making hot weather more dangerous for children.
In India, about 145 million children experience at least one extra month of heat stress each year.
Heat stress can cause dehydration, heatstroke, organ failure, and other serious health problems.
Humid heat is especially dangerous because it makes it harder for the body to cool itself by sweating.
Around the world, as many as 560 million children aged 0–9 face this extra heat exposure.
Children are affected more than older age groups in the study.
Poor housing, limited cooling, poverty, and strained health systems can make the danger worse.
The number of affected children is expected to rise if global temperatures increase further.
An estimated 145 million Indian children, or 61%, face at least one additional month of heat stress annually because of climate change.
Climate change has doubled the number of Indian children experiencing at least five months of dangerous heat stress, from 59 million to 118 million.
Globally, up to 560 million children aged 0–9 experience at least one additional month of climate-linked heat stress each year.
The study found children face more additional heat exposure than any other age group, especially in tropical and poorer regions.
India’s projected exposure could reach 166 million children under 1.5°C warming and 169 million under 2°C warming.
- Who
- Children, especially those aged 0–9, are the main population studied by an international research team led by researchers at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, including lead author Rosa Pietroiusti.
- What
- The study estimated how many children experience at least one additional month of dangerous humid heat stress each year because of human-induced climate change.
- Where
- The analysis covers the world, with South Asia, Southeast Asia, and West Africa identified as regions with the highest numbers of exposed children; India is a major focus.
- When
- The findings describe current annual exposure and project conditions under 1.5°C and 2°C global warming scenarios.
- Why
- Human-induced climate change is increasing humid heat, which makes it harder for the body to cool itself and raises risks including dehydration, heatstroke, and organ failure.
Key facts
- Current exposure in India
- 145 million children, or 61%, face at least one additional month of heat stress annually.
- Five-month exposure in India
- The number of children exposed to at least five total months of dangerous heat stress rose from 59 million to 118 million, or 50% of children.
- Global current exposure
- Up to 560 million children aged 0–9, or 43%, experience at least one additional month of heat stress annually due to climate change.
- Global 1.5°C projection
- The number of affected children could rise to 620 million, or 49% of all children.
- Global 2°C projection
- The number could reach 650 million children, or 59% of all children.
- India at 1.5°C warming
- An estimated 166 million Indian children, or 74%, could experience at least one additional month of heat stress annually.
- India at 2°C warming
- An estimated 169 million Indian children, or 96%, could experience at least one additional month of heat stress annually.
Quotes
Rosa Pietroiusti
Lead author and PhD researcher at Vrije Universiteit Brussel
“Climate change is already causing hundreds of millions of children to suffer from dangerous heat worldwide, posing severe risks to their health. Children in developing countries face (a) disproportionate exposure to climate extremes now and into the future, despite contributing the least to historical greenhouse gas emissions.”
NDTV
“At the same time, poverty, inadequate housing, limited access to cooling, and overstretched health care systems leave many children with few ways to protect themselves from the heat.”
NDTV
Sources
Related news
Climate Change Exposes 145 Million Indian Children to Heat Stress
Climate Heat Stress Threatens India’s Children and Elderly
Heatwaves pose highest mental health risks for children and teens
Why India Has Been Cooler as Global Heat Intensifies
Hot days could last four hours longer by 2100: study
Rising Humid Heat Could Bring 4,000 Annual Deaths to Lucknow
Indian Refiners Cut Russian Oil Purchases, Seek Supplies Elsewhere
IOC, HPCL rush to secure crude cargoes through November
Montra Electric Expands Internationally with Super Auto Exports to Nepal
DR Congo's Ebola outbreak surpasses 4,000 cases, 1,850 deaths
