Extreme heat links to premature births and underweight babies, UNFCCC's Simon Stiell warns
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Cropping patterns & irrigation· Mains·
Climate change impacts on maternal and neonatal health: a GS3 and Public Health case study.
Why in news
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell warned of the link between extreme heat and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including premature births and underweight babies, ahead of COP31.
Background
A Wellcome survey of 1,000 maternal healthcare professionals across Australia, Brazil, India, the UK, and Zimbabwe found that 73% saw maternal complications and 76% saw newborn issues over five years. The study highlights that for every 1 degree Celsius rise in heat exposure, the odds of preterm birth increase.
Facts for Prelims
- Fact73 per cent of maternal healthcare professionals reported an increase in heat-related cases or complications affecting pregnant women.
- Fact76 per cent of healthcare professionals reported an increase in issues affecting foetal or newborn health over the last five years.
- PlaceCOP31 is scheduled to be held in Turkey next month.
Prelims practice question
Which country is scheduled to host the COP31 summit?
- (a)Japan
- (b)Turkey
- (c)France
- (d)Germany
Show answer
Answer: (b) Turkey — The note specifies that COP31 is scheduled to be held in Turkey next month.
For Mains
Q. Discuss how climate-driven extreme heat poses a systemic threat to maternal and neonatal health, and suggest measures to build climate-resilient healthcare systems.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Health infrastructure: Need for heat-resilient maternity wards and cooling systems in rural healthcare centers.
- Climate-health nexus: Requirement for integrating meteorological data into maternal health risk assessments.
- Policy gap: Lack of specific clinical guidelines for managing heat-induced pregnancy complications in tropical regions.
Keywords: Climate-driven health risks · Maternal health · Extreme heat · COP31 · Climate resilience · Neonatal health
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.