Beat the heat: protecting children from heatwaves in Europe and Central Asia
Around half of children in Europe and Central Asia – or 92 million – are exposed to high heatwave frequency, according to an analysis of the latest available data from 50 countries published by UNICEF in a new policy brief. This is double the global average of 1 in 4 children exposed to high heatwave frequency. Beat the heat: protecting children from heatwaves in Europe and Central Asia notes that children are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of heatwaves, putting them at risk of serious illness including heatstroke. Infants and young children are most at risk during heatwaves as their core temperatures rise significantly higher and faster than adults. Heatwaves also affect children’s ability to concentrate and learn, putting their education at risk, the report notes.
