Children are disproportionately affected by extreme heat waves increasingly intense, frequent and longer.
A new study from Save the Children shows that in the 12 months from July 2023 to June 2024, a record number of children (766 million children), representing a third of the world’s childrenexperienced extreme heat waves.
In the same period, One in six children experienced the highest temperature recorded in their area since at least 1980The report describes the unique impacts of heatwaves on children’s health and well-being and offers recommendations to protect them.
Heat in Spain
According to the report, 72.7% of Spanish children suffered extreme heat waves last year and 25.8% faced unprecedented temperatures, according to a study by Save the Children.
In Europe, this summer was the hottest on record and also at the global level, according to the European Copernicus observation programme. Data from the Save the Children study corroborate this: the number of children affected by extreme heatwaves almost doubled between 2022/23 and 2023/24.
In the same period, 344 million children experienced highest temperature ever recorded in their locality since at least 1980 (which is equivalent to 15% of the total).
Eliminate fossil fuels
Based on this investigation, the NGO calls on governments to quickly eliminate the fuel consumption and subsidy fossil fuels and ensure a just and equitable transition.
To conduct the study, Save the Children used satellite data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service and estimates of the global child population from WorldPop, aligned with the World Population Prospects 2022 United Nations (UN).
During the investigation, he defined a heat wave such as three consecutive days with temperatures above the 99th percentile of the last 30 years for a specific location. The data includes heat wave records from the year 2000 and unprecedented temperature spikes compared to records from 1980 to 2023.
South Asia Alert
Throughout the text, the organization stressed that Highest number of children suffering from heatwaves recorded in South AsiaBy region, South Asia recorded the highest number of people affected, with 213 million; followed by East Asia and the Pacific, with 129 million; and West and Central Africa, with 117 million.
Specifically, The most affected countries were Andorra, San Marino and Albania.where 100% of children suffered the consequences of extreme heat; while in Thailand it was 97.5%; in Cambodia97.2%; and in Syria88.7%.
However, depending on the number of children affected, In India, 170 million children suffer from extreme temperatures (39.5% of the total child population); 38 million did so in Bangladesh (71.5%); and 37 million in Nigeria (33.7%).
On the other hand, the report also indicates that the average number of heatwave days in Latin America and the Caribbean, and West and Central Africa, more than doubled compared to the previous twelve months.
More hospitalizations
The NGO stressed that extreme heat leads to an increase in child hospitalizations and the prevalence of respiratory diseases in the world and a worsening of existing inequalities and food insecurity. In addition, it has been reported that this affects the mental health and overall development of boys and girls.
“Children around the world are suffering from more intense and frequent heat waves due to the climate crisis“Not only does this seriously endanger their physical and mental health, but also their rights such as education,” explained Andrés Conde, the NGO’s general director.
Effects on education
The report also concludes thatHeat waves also disrupt education with schools closed and learning reduced. In April and May 2024, more than 210 million schoolchildren missed classes due to extreme heat.
In Pakistan’s most populous province, Punjab, as of May this year, at least 26 million boys and girls, or 52 percent of all students in preschool, primary and secondary schools in the country, missed class due to extreme heat.
