{
  "id": 4697300,
  "title": "Climate Change Is Taking Away Hours of Sleep: Warmer Nights Are Affecting Rest",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/climate-change-is-taking-away-hours-of-sleep-warmer-nights-are",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T18:39:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/08/31/climate-change-hours-sleep/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent study conducted by Climate Central has revealed that warmer nighttime temperatures are contributing to reduced sleep duration worldwide. The analysis examined 1,338 cities globally and found that people are losing an average of nearly 56 hours of sleep annually due to higher nighttime temperatures. In some cities, this sleep loss can amount to more than three full days over the course of a year. While the overall impact is felt across all regions, it is particularly pronounced in low- and middle-income countries, where access to cooling systems may be limited. The problem stems from the body's need to cool down during sleep; when the surrounding environment remains too warm, sleep onset is delayed and sleep is disrupted more frequently. Urban areas, particularly those experiencing the urban heat island effect, are especially vulnerable, as densely built environments can remain warmer at night than surrounding rural areas. Climate change is intensifying this issue, with the global analysis estimating that around six hours of the nearly 56 hours of annual sleep loss between 2020 and 2025 were directly attributable to climate-induced warming. In cities across the Middle East and parts of India and Southeast Asia, climate change's contribution to sleep loss can be even higher, ranging from 12 to 16 hours. The findings underscore the growing significance of warmer nights as an environmental factor affecting sleep quality, with potential consequences extending beyond daytime fatigue to include mood changes, cognitive difficulties, and adverse effects on cardiovascular and immune health.",
  "summary": "Rising nighttime temperatures are no longer just a problem associated with heat or extreme weather events. They are also affecting an activity that is essential to human health: sleep. A new analysis by Climate Central found that warmer nights are reducing the amount of sleep people get in cities around the world, a trend that […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}