Extreme heat putting births in jeopardy, U.N. climate chief warns
Extreme heat is increasingly linked to problems such as premature births or underweight babies, the U.N. climate chief is warning.
Nadi, Fiji is hosting talks ahead of an important climate summit, as extreme heat poses risks to pregnancies and child health, according to the U.N. climate chief. Over two-thirds of health professionals have witnessed complications due to intense heat over the past five years. Climate disasters also raise the risk of child marriage and teen pregnancies, affecting girls' education and health services, a charity noted.
The Pacific region, particularly vulnerable to climate change, is facing growing threats from rising sea levels, coral bleaching, and the need for $310 billion to $365 billion in adaptation finance, which developing countries only have $26 billion for 2023. Australia, a major coal exporter and the head of current climate negotiations, faces accusations of hypocrisy as its coal sales surge due to the Middle East conflict.
Fiji's climate minister, Lynda Tabuya, seeks commitments from developing nations for a just transition with support for the most affected countries. A push by Pacific leaders is also calling for global warming limits to 1.5 degrees Celsius and attention to ocean impacts. The pre-COP summit aims to highlight the impact of climate change on the region, with low-lying Tuvalu preparing for potential population relocation.
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