# Climate change impact on maternal and neonatal health

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/climate-change-impact-on-maternal-and-neonatal-health
> Updated: 2026-10-22T14:21:09.000Z. Sources: 31. Developments: 4.

At a Pre-COP31 ministerial meeting in Fiji, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell warned that extreme heat is creating a “potentially fatal faultline” in the global climate crisis, specifically impacting pregnancy and childbirth. Stiell advocated for the mandatory inclusion of maternal and newborn health in national climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Data from a Wellcome Trust survey of 1,000 maternal health professionals across Australia, Brazil, India, the United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe supports these warnings. Approximately 73% of respondents reported an increase in heat-linked pregnancy complications over the last five years, and 81% expressed serious concern regarding the impact of extreme heat on maternal, fetal, and newborn health. Notably, 98% of surveyed professionals reported having cared for a pregnant woman, and 99% had cared for a baby whose health was compromised by extreme heat.

Scientific findings indicate that every 1°C rise in temperature correlates with a 5% increase in premature births and a 7% increase in gestational diabetes. Other identified risks include stillbirths, low birth weights, dehydration, pre-eclampsia, and heat-induced hypertension. Research cited by the WHO further associates extreme heat exposure with a 26% increase in the odds of preterm birth. Additionally, infants under one year of age experienced 389% more heatwave days in 2024 compared to the 1986–2005 baseline.

In response, the WHO, WMO, UNICEF, and UNFPA have launched a global framework to monitor these impacts. The initiative uses 19 priority indicators to track risks such as preterm births and pregnancy-related hypertension, aiming to strengthen early-warning systems and healthcare preparedness.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-22: UN agencies launch global framework to track extreme heat risks

UN agencies have introduced a global framework of 19 indicators to track how extreme heat affects maternal and child health, including risks of preterm birth and infant heatwave exposure.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/un-agencies-launch-global-framework-to-track-extreme-heat-risks

### 2026-10-13: United Nations warns climate change threatens maternal and infant health

A UN survey warns that rising temperatures increase risks for pregnant women and infants, including premature births and stillbirths, while also impacting maternal mental health.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/united-nations-warns-climate-change-threatens-maternal-and-infant-health

### 2026-10-11: UN warns extreme heat increases risks to maternal and neonatal health

UN climate chief Simon Stiell warns that extreme heat increases risks of preterm birth and maternal complications, calling for maternal health to be integrated into national climate adaptation plans.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/un-warns-extreme-heat-increases-risks-to-maternal-and-neonatal-health

### 2026-10-05: Extreme heat threatens maternal and newborn health, UN warns

UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell warns that extreme heat is creating a fatal faultline in maternal and neonatal health, with a Wellcome survey showing rising pregnancy complications globally.

22 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/extreme-heat-increases-risks-for-pregnant-women-and-newborns

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Cite as: Climate change impact on maternal and neonatal health. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/climate-change-impact-on-maternal-and-neonatal-health