Climate change doubles the extreme heat risk for pregnant women, according to a new report by Climate Central, an independent collection of scientists and communicators. “Pregnancy heat-risk days” are days when maximum temperatures surpass 95 percent of historic local temperatures, a threshold associated with an elevated risk of preterm birth. The study looked at daily temperatures from 2020 to 2024 across 247 countries, territories, and 940 cities. Almost one-third of the 19 pregnant heat-risk days recorded yearly in India between 2020 and 2024 were caused by climate change, which has increased the number of such days by an average of six per year over the previous five years. Climate change-driven increases in high heat provide a serious risk to maternal health and delivery outcomes, with far-reaching effects on mothers and their unborn children around the globe.
Regional Impacts Highlight Growing Vulnerability
The data highlights notable regional differences in how climate change doubles extreme heat risk for pregnant women, especially in India, where the problem is exacerbated by geographical and climatic diversity. With an astounding 32 extra days added each year, Sikkim, a state in the northeast, reported the most additional pregnant heat-risk days brought on by climate change. As local conditions were pushed above historical standards by greater temperatures caused by climate change, coastal regions like Goa and Kerala followed, recording 24 and 18 extra days, respectively. The situation is equally alarming in major cities: throughout the five years, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Pune each witnessed seven additional days of pregnant heat risk, while Mumbai saw 26 extra days.
These “pregnancy heat-risk days” pose a direct risk to the health of both the mother and the foetus; they are more than just statistics. The chance of preterm birth, which can cause long-term health issues for the unborn child, such as developmental delays and chronic illnesses, increases dramatically when temperatures climb above the 95th percentile of historical norms. Preterm birth raises a mother’s risk of developing infections and mental health problems after giving birth. According to the analysis, climate change has at least increased the number of these risky days per year in 90% of countries worldwide—222 out of 247—during the last five years. This tendency has been seen on all continents. This pervasive effect highlights the immediate need for focused actions to safeguard vulnerable groups, especially expectant mothers, in areas already susceptible to intense heat.
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Global Health Implications and Expert Insights
Climate change doubles the extreme heat risk for pregnant women, and this analysis’s wider ramifications are extremely worrisome because maternal health is increasingly at risk globally due to excessive heat brought on by climate change. “This report highlights the serious and growing threat that climate change poses to women’s health and lives, particularly for those already at risk of poorer health outcomes in developing countries,” said Dr. Ranee Thakar, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (UK), underscoring the gravity of the problem. She pointed out that in addition to excessive heat, elements like air pollution and extended high temperatures increase the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight, which disproportionately affects women in areas with poor resources and frequently insufficient access to healthcare.
The effects of preterm birth on health are extensive. Premature babies are more likely to experience long-term problems like cognitive deficits and cardiovascular disorders, as well as acute difficulties like respiratory distress and trouble controlling body temperature. Increased rates of postpartum depression and other issues can result from the psychological and physical toll that preterm delivery takes on mothers. According to the Climate Central report, these hazards are no longer hypothetical; a warming globe is causing the number of pregnancy heat-risk days to double in most countries. This trend is especially concerning in developing nations, where expectant mothers might not have access to cooling systems or healthcare, which might help reduce heat exposure. The relationship between current health disparities and climate change emphasises how urgently global action is required to solve social and environmental injustices.
The data also shows a clear global trend: the consequences of climate change on maternal health are felt everywhere. Pregnancy heat-risk days are on the rise, a global problem affecting both urban places like Mumbai and rural areas like Sikkim. Nonetheless, the effects are most noticeable in tropical and subtropical regions, where temperatures are already high at baseline, and even slight increases can cause deadly situations. To solve this catastrophe, the research recommends a multipronged strategy that includes larger attempts to ameliorate climate change through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and better public health measures, such as heat action plans designed for pregnant women. Protecting maternal and foetal health must become a global priority as the frequency and severity of extreme heat events continue to increase. Governments, healthcare institutions, and communities must work together to protect the most vulnerable.
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