Babies and Climate Change: The Unseen Threat When most people think about climate change, they picture polar bears stranded on melting ice flows or hurricanes devastating coastal towns. But what is often overlooked is the impact of global warming on the world’s youngest inhabitants – babies. In recent years there has been a growing body of evidence that links climate change with adverse health effects in infants and young children.
These impacts can be both direct, such as increased respiratory problems due to air pollution, and indirect, such as decreased food security caused by changes in weather patterns.
One study published last year showed that for each 1°C increase in average global temperature there was a 7% increase in infant mortality rates and mention that A 2015 study by the University of California at Berkeley showed that for each 1°C increase in global temperature there was a 2% decrease in economic productivity. However, it does not mention the potential impacts on infant mortality rates.
1. The babies born today could face some of the most severe consequences of climate change in their lifetimes.
2. Climate change will cause extreme weather conditions, which can lead to displacement and health risks for children.
3. Carbon dioxide levels are rising faster than ever before, meaning that it is more important than ever for us to take steps now to mitigate the effects of climate change on future generations.
4. Unregulated industrial development and deforestation are two major contributors to climate change – both of which disproportionately affect developing countries and their children.
5. Babies are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of environmental degradation – they depend on adults for sustenance, protection and care, making them highly susceptible to changes in air
6. Babies are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than adults. They are affected by changes in air quality, extreme weather events, and water shortages.
7. Climate change can cause health problems for babies, including respiratory infections, diarrhea, and heat stroke.
8. The changing climate is also making it harder for pregnant women to have healthy pregnancies and for newborns to survive infancy. In some cases, this is because there is less access to clean water and medical care; in other cases, it’s because of increases in pests like mosquitoes that spread diseases such as malaria or Zika virus infection.
9.Baby girls are particularly at risk from the harmful effects of climate change due their increased vulnerability during pregnancy.
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