A new report by the group of specialists from Central climate It reveals that the extreme heat caused by global warming has increased significantly Risk heat days during pregnancydefined as the days in which the maximum temperatures exceed 95% of historical local temperatures.
Research prior to this work indicates that this is a threshold associated with a higher risk of premature delivery. Premature delivery can have lasting effects on baby’s health and increase the risk of maternal health problems after childbirth.
According to the work, which analyzed the daily temperatures between 2020 and 2024, Spain experienced an annual average of additional 22 days of this type due to climate change. The Balearic Islands was the most affected community with 28 more days, followed by Castilla-La Mancha (26) and Catalonia, Valencian Community and Murcia (25).
Of the four Spanish cities that collect the study, Barcelona was the one that, with 28 days, experienced the greatest number of additional risk heat days during pregnancy every year between 2020 and 2024. Behind it stood in Madrid, Valencia and Seville, with 25, 22 and 11 days respectively.
The study also provides global data. Based on daily temperatures of 940 cities in 247 countries, compare real data with a scenario without anthropogenic climate change. It is concluded that almost the 90% of countries doubled the number of risk heat days In the last five years.
In almost third of countries and territories (78 of 247), climate change added at least One more month of risk heat during pregnancy Every year, from 2020 to 2024.
In addition, the report indicates that the largest number of risk heat days during pregnancy was greater in countries in developing areas that often have limited access to health care, such as the Caribbean, Central and South America, the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia and Sub -Saharan Africa. These regions are among the most vulnerable, despite being the ones that contribute the least to greenhouse gas emissions.
In conclusion, the report underlines that the climatic crisis is also a health crisis, with serious implications for maternal and child health if greenhouse gas emissions are not quickly reduced.