Climate change and child health

This policy brief summarises new research from the CHAMNHA (Climate, Heat and Maternal and Neonatal Health in Africa) and AWARD-APR (Addressing Extreme Weather Related Diarrheal Disease Risks in Asia Pacific Region) projects funded by the Belmont Forum under the Climate Environment and Health collaborative research action (CEH1). Children will bear the greatest burden from climate change on their health because climate-sensitive diseases, such as diarrahoeal disease, malaria, dengue, dehydration and malnutrition have a greater impact. Researchers in the CHAMNHA project estimated the impact of climate change on annual heat-related child deaths in Africa for the current (1995–2020) and future time periods (2020– 2050).

Key conclusions and recommendations of the article include the following: 

• Climate change disproportionately affects the health of children. Children bear the greatest burden of climate-sensitive diseases, particularly malnutrition, diarrheal disease and life-threatening dehydration. 
• Climate change already affects child health. Observed warming has offset the benefit from health improvement for heat-related child mortality in Africa. 
• More effective interventions are needed to protect infants and children from extreme heat and extreme precipitation.
• Better investment in the research and implementation of climate-resilient WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) interventions is needed.