Extreme Heat Increasing Health Risks for Pregnant Women and Newborns

Extreme Heat Raises Health Risks for Pregnant Women and Newborns

• A Wellcome survey has highlighted the growing health risks of extreme heat for pregnant women, foetuses and newborns.
• The survey covered 1,000 maternal healthcare professionals from India, Australia, Brazil, the UK and Zimbabwe, with 200 respondents from each country. 
• Around 73% reported an increase in heat-related problems among pregnant women, while 76% observed more cases affecting foetal or newborn health. 
• Almost all respondents had treated pregnant women or babies whose health they believed was affected by extreme heat. 
• Reported health problems included: 
  • Pregnancy complications requiring additional care. 
  • Low birth weight and restricted growth. 
  • Dehydration and heat-related illness among newborns. 
  • Difficulties with feeding, breathing and temperature control. 
• About 27% said extreme heat was making it harder for families to reach healthcare facilities, while 29% reported an increase in emergency cases. 
• Research cited by Wellcome indicates that every 1°C rise in heat exposure may increase the chances of preterm birth by about 5%. Heatwaves have also been linked to a 25% higher risk of pregnancy-related complications. 
• Ahead of 31st Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), Wellcome has urged countries to include pregnant women, new mothers and babies in climate and health plans, along with better heat-warning systems and health monitoring.

About Global Warming:

• Global warming refers to the long-term increase in Earth’s average surface temperature. 
• It is mainly driven by human activities that increase greenhouse gases (GHGs), although natural factors also influence climate. 
• Major human causes include: 
  • Burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. 
  • Deforestation, which reduces the Earth’s capacity to absorb CO₂. 
  • Industrial activities, including cement production and manufacturing. 
  • Agriculture, especially livestock and synthetic fertilisers. 
• Natural factors include variations in solar activity, volcanic eruptions and changes in Earth’s orbit. However, recent rapid warming is primarily human-induced. 

About UNFCCC:

• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the main international framework for addressing climate change. 
• It was adopted at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and has 198 Parties. 
• It provides the foundation for the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement. 
• Its annual Conference of the Parties (COP) reviews implementation and negotiates further climate action. 
• The IPCC, established by UNEP and WMO in 1988, provides scientific assessments for climate negotiations. 

About Kyoto Protocol:

• Adopted in 1997, it set legally binding emission-reduction targets mainly for developed countries. 
• It introduced market-based mechanisms such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). 

About Paris Agreement:

• Adopted at COP21 in 2015. 
• Seeks to keep warming well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. 
• Countries submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) outlining their climate actions. 
• It also focuses on adaptation, resilience and climate finance.

Practice Question

Q. With reference to extreme heat, global warming and international climate agreements, consider the following statements:

1. The Paris Agreement requires all countries to adopt legally binding and identical emission-reduction targets. 
2. The Clean Development Mechanism was introduced under the Kyoto Protocol as a market-based mechanism for achieving emission-reduction commitments. 
3. The recent rapid rise in global temperatures is primarily attributed to human activities, although natural factors such as volcanic activity and variations in solar radiation also influence climate. 
4. The UNFCCC was adopted at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and subsequently provided the institutional basis for both the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. 

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only

Answer: (d) 2, 3 and 4 only

Explanation:

• The Paris Agreement requires countries to submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are nationally determined rather than identical legally binding emission targets. Hence, Statement 1 is Incorrect. 
• The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) was introduced under the Kyoto Protocol as a market-based mechanism to help achieve emission-reduction commitments. Hence, Statement 2 is Correct. 
• Natural factors such as volcanic eruptions and solar variations influence climate, but the recent rapid warming is primarily human-induced. Hence, Statement 3 is Correct. 
• The UNFCCC was adopted at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and serves as the framework underlying the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement. Hence, Statement 4 is Correct.