Global warming is not just an environmental concern: millions of children worldwide face unprecedented risks due to extreme temperatures.
According to a report by Save the Children, out of the 120 million children born in 2020, approximately 100 million are exposed to extreme heatwaves.
A global challenge with no immediate solutions
Ten years after the Paris Agreement, the world remains far from its goal to keep global warming below 1.5°C.
Current climate policies are leading us to an increase of 2.7°C by 2100, and if commitments are not met, we could reach up to 3.1°C.
The effects of extreme heat on childhood
The report, prepared in collaboration with the Free University of Brussels (VUB), warns about the severe consequences of temperature rise:
- Dehydration and respiratory diseases in younger children.
- School closures, affecting learning.
- Crop losses, reducing food availability.
- Increase in extreme weather events, such as cyclones, droughts, and wildfires.
Limiting warming to 1.5°C could reduce the number of children under five exposed to extreme heatwaves by 38 million, representing a significant improvement in their quality of life.
The impact of climate change is felt worldwide.
Children in low and middle-income countries are the most vulnerable, as their families have fewer resources to face these crises.
Urgent actions to protect childhood
Save the Children urges world leaders to place children at the heart of climate action, adopting measures such as:
- Accelerating the phase-out of fossil fuels.
- Financing climate adaptation in vulnerable communities.
- Redesigning national plans to reduce emissions and ensure a sustainable future.
Meeting environmental commitments could prevent the exposure of five million children to extreme weather events resulting from global warming, ensuring a safer future for new generations.
Cover photo: AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
