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Climate change exposes 560 million children to extreme heat
A new study published in Science Advances reveals that children aged 0 to 9 are disproportionately affected by climate change, facing higher levels of dangerous humid heat than any other age group. Currently, more than 560 million children—approximately 43% of this age group—are exposed to at least one additional month of heat stress per year.
Researchers from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and an international team used climate models and demographic data to quantify these risks. The study highlights that humid heat is particularly hazardous because it impairs the body's ability to cool itself through sweating. This exposure poses severe risks to health and cognitive development, including dehydration and heatstroke.
Projections indicate the crisis will worsen as global temperatures rise. Under a 1.5°C warming scenario, the number of affected children is expected to reach 620 million (49%). If warming reaches 2°C, that number could rise to 650 million (59%). Regions such as South Asia and West Africa are currently experiencing the highest levels of childhood exposure to dangerous humid heat.
Entities
Rosa Pietroiusti · Science Advances · Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 6 SOURCES] Children aged 0 to 9 face higher exposure to dangerous humid heat than any other age group. www.todoalicante.es · contrapunto.com · thefinancialanalyst.net · press.vub.ac.be · efeverde.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] The number of children aged 0 to 9 exposed to an additional month of heat is projected to reach 650 million if warming hits 2°C. www.todoalicante.es · contrapunto.com · thefinancialanalyst.net · press.vub.ac.be · efeverde.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Over 560 million children aged 0 to 9 are currently exposed to at least one additional month of dangerous heat per year. www.todoalicante.es · contrapunto.com · thefinancialanalyst.net · press.vub.ac.be · efeverde.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] A study published in Science Advances quantifies the impact of climate change on heat exposure across different age groups. www.todoalicante.es · contrapunto.com · thefinancialanalyst.net · press.vub.ac.be · efeverde.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] The number of children aged 0 to 9 exposed to an additional month of heat is projected to reach 620 million if warming hits 1.5°C. www.todoalicante.es · contrapunto.com · thefinancialanalyst.net · press.vub.ac.be · efeverde.com · +1 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] South Asia and West Africa are recording the highest childhood exposure to dangerous levels of humid heat. thefinancialanalyst.net · www.carbonbrief.org
- [● 6 SOURCES] The research was coordinated by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and involved an international team of scientists. www.todoalicante.es · contrapunto.com · thefinancialanalyst.net · press.vub.ac.be · efeverde.com · +1 more