Beat the heat: Child health amid heatwaves in Europe and Central Asia

This policy brief outlines six policy recommendations for governments to protect young children, particularly vulnerable to the health effects of heat stress. Rising temperatures across Europe and Central Asia killed an estimated 377 children in 2021 – according to a new analysis of data from 23 countries published today by UNICEF. The brief finds that half of these children died from heat-related illnesses in their first year of life. Most children died during the summer months.

As the temperatures continue to rise, UNICEF urges governments across Europe and Central Asia to:

1. Integrate strategies to reduce the impact of heatwaves including through National Determined Contributions (NDC), National Adaptation Plans (NAP), and disaster risk reduction and disaster management policies with children at the centre of these plans
2. Invest in heat health action plans and primary health care to more adequately support heat-related illness among children
3. Invest in early warning systems, including heat alert systems
4. Adapt education facilities to reduce the temperatures in the areas children play in and equip teachers with skills to respond to heat stress
5. Adapt urban design and infrastructure including ensuring buildings, particularly those housing the most vulnerable communities are equipped to minimize heat exposure
6. Secure the provision of safe water, particularly in countries with deteriorating water quality and availability.