As a result of climate change caused by human activities, 2023 was the hottest year on record, and 2024 could break a new record.
In this context, Unicef analyzed one of the effects of this warming, extreme heat, in particular the number of days exceeding 35°C each year, comparing the average of the 1960s with that of the period 2020-2024. As a result, “One in five children now experience twice as many days of extreme heat as their grandparents experienced 50 or 60 years ago, and the trend is getting worse,” explains Lily Caprani, the UN agency's head of advocacy.
This represents almost one billion children (466 million according to data released on Tuesday) from all continents, even if certain regions are particularly affected. Thus, in West and Central Africa, 123 million children (39% of children in this region) live more than a third of the year above 35°C, with peaks at 212 days in Mali, 202 in Niger, 198 in Senegal, 195. in Sudan.
Much more vulnerable
“This heat is dangerous for anyone, but especially for young children,” points out Lily Caprani. “Little children's bodies are not just little adults. They are much more vulnerable to extreme heat, their heart beats faster, they breathe faster.”
And for a baby who doesn't sweat like an adult to regulate its temperature, “it can literally be deadly,” she warns, also drawing attention to the dangers to pregnant women and the babies they carry.
These extreme temperatures can also affect children's neurodevelopment and mental health, making them more vulnerable. to diseases such as malariawarns Unicef.
Not to mention learning difficulties in stuffy classrooms. “In the first months of 2024, at least 80 million children have already lost school days due to closures due to extreme heat,” says Lily Caprani, estimating the figure is likely to be much higher.
UNICEF is calling for action
The data also shows that in 100 countries, more than half of children are experiencing twice as many heat waves (at least 3 days of high temperatures) compared to 60 years ago, which represents for example 36 million of children in the United States.
So Unicef is calling for action. Limiting the impact by teaching parents to detect the signs of heatstroke, by training health personnel to do it as an emergency, by investing in air conditioning systems in schools, a solution, unfortunately, that is not within the reach of many countries. But especially to slow down warming on a planet where even higher temperatures, above 40°C, or even up to 50°C, are increasingly common.