Extreme heat is becoming a growing danger during pregnancy and childbirth, with maternal health professionals across five countries reporting increases in heat-related complications affecting pregnant women, foetuses and newborns.
Evidence presented around the Pre-COP31 meeting in Fiji drew on a survey of 1,000 maternal health professionals in Australia, Brazil, India, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe. Seventy-three per cent reported an increase in heat-related cases or complications affecting pregnant women over the previous five years, while 76 per cent reported an increase affecting foetal or newborn health.
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said: “Rising temperatures mean rising danger in pregnancy.” He added: “Climate-driven extreme heat during pregnancy is increasingly linked to premature birth, stillbirth, low birth weight, and maternal complications.”
Stiell called for pregnancy and newborn health to be incorporated into national climate adaptation and heat plans, alongside stronger warning systems, health-worker training, safer medical facilities and improved measurement of heat-related health impacts.
