Key Points
Exposure to extreme temperatures driven by climate change will increase risk of preterm birth by 60%, causing several lifelong complications for millions of children around the world, a new research has found...
Analysing results from 163 health studies globally, researchers said they have determined that climate change will be directly responsible for multiple detrimental health impacts in children, including higher occurrences of respiratory illnesses and more hospitalisations...
The researchers, led by those at The University of Western Australia, warned that lack of global action on climate change will likely devastate childrens health for generations...
Their study revealed that even advanced economies would not avoid the impacts of climate change on childrens health, even as they said health risks varied across continents and socio-economic circumstances...
While extreme temperatures have led to higher preterm births in Australias East Coast, Northern Territory, and Western Australia and enhanced respiratory issues in Queensland, similar temperatures have increased mortality rates in South Africa, they said.. Action in terms of developing public health policies to counter these climate-related diseases, alongside efforts to reduce anthropogenic climate change, is required to protect current and future children, said lead researcher Lewis Weeda from The University of Western Australia.. Finding solutions and implementing climate adaptation and mitigation policies would positively impact multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals..
