In a new policy brief released on 26 July 2023, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) revealed that half of all children in Europe and Central Asia, totaling 92 million, are currently exposed to high heatwave frequency, double the global average. UNICEF’s Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Regina De Dominicis, expressed deep concern over the impact of the climate crisis on these regions, emphasizing that children’s health and well-being are suffering the most.
The report highlighted that children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of heatwaves, as their core temperatures rise significantly faster and higher than adults, putting them at risk of serious health issues, including heatstroke. Heatwaves also hinder children’s education, impairing their ability to concentrate and learn.
Looking ahead, the situation is projected to worsen. The report warned that if global temperatures rise by a conservative estimate of 1.7 degrees Celsius, every child in the region will experience high heatwave frequency by the year 2050. Shockingly, approximately 81 percent of these children will face prolonged periods of intense heatwaves, while 28 percent will encounter even more severe heatwave conditions.
UNICEF outlined six recommendations for governments in Europe and Central Asia to protect children from the heatwave threat:
- Incorporate heatwave mitigation and adaptation into climate-related commitments and disaster risk reduction and management policies, with a focus on putting children at the center of all plans.
- Invest in primary health care to support prevention, early action, diagnosis, and treatment of heat-related illnesses among children. This includes providing training for community health workers and teachers.
- Invest in national climate early warning systems to facilitate timely response and action during heatwave events.
- Conduct local environmental assessments to identify vulnerable areas and populations, and support emergency preparedness and resilience-building initiatives.
UNICEF stressed that governments must urgently invest in mitigation and adaptation measures to safeguard children’s health and well-being as heatwaves continue to intensify in Europe and Central Asia.
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