Read more in the August 22 edition of Invert Insights.
Content note: This post discusses maternal health, pregnancy complications, and gender-based violence in the context of climate change.
In recent years, the escalating crisis of climate change has become a global health emergency, with a disproportionately severe impact on the world’s most vulnerable populations. A growing body of research highlights how climate change is a gender issue, with pregnant women and children bearing a unique and heightened burden of risk, particularly in the Global South.
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and other institutions have been at the forefront of examining this threat, revealing that climate-related hazards, like extreme heat, air pollution, floods, and storms, are undermining decades of progress in maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH). The consequences are both direct and indirect, and in many cases, life-threatening.
Extreme heat poses one of the most immediate and dangerous threats to maternal and child health. A woman’s body temperature naturally rises during pregnancy, making her less able to tolerate high temperatures and more susceptible to dehydration. Heat exposure is directly linked to a higher incidence of life-threatening conditions like preeclampsia, eclampsia, and gestational diabetes. It can also lead to placental abruption, where the placenta detaches from the uterine wall before birth, a complication that can be lethal for both mother and fetus.
For infants, the risks are equally dire. Extreme heat is consistently associated with an increased risk of preterm birth and stillbirth. Studies have found a significant correlation between high temperatures and stillbirths, regardless of the duration of heat exposure. A single day of extreme heat during pregnancy can elevate the risk of complications. A study of 29 lower- and middle-income countries revealed that heat from climate change is already affecting newborn mortality rates in every country studied.
The disproportionate effect on pregnant women is compounded by socioeconomic factors. Women in lower socioeconomic strata face double the odds of stillbirth compared to those in the highest category. In many vulnerable communities, pregnant women must continue with physically demanding outdoor work or walk long distances for water, which increases their exposure to heat. In these areas, homes are often small and windowless, making indoor heat unbearable, and many women skip healthcare appointments to avoid long, hot walks to clinics.
The past five years have seen a drastic increase in pregnancy heat-risk days, defined as days with maximum temperatures hotter than 95% of local temperatures, due to climate change. In 90% of countries analyzed, climate change at least doubled the average annual number of these days. The most significant increases occurred in developing regions with limited access to healthcare, such as the Caribbean, Central and South America, the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.
The burning of fossil fuels, the primary driver of climate change, also releases air pollutants that are a major source of health risks for pregnant women and children. While some pollutants are a direct cause of global warming, others are exacerbated by climate change itself. For example, rising temperatures can lead to more temperature inversions that trap pollution and worsen ground-level ozone.
Air pollution is strongly linked to premature birth and low birth weight. One study attributed a staggering 35.7% of global preterm births to increased particulate matter exposure, while nearly 16% of low-birth-weight cases are linked to fine particulate matter.
Pollution also increases the risk of birth defects, particularly heart issues. Exposure to fine particulate matter during pregnancy can raise the odds of premature rupture of membranes and has been linked to gestational hypertension and diabetes. Furthermore, prenatal exposure to pollution may increase a child’s risk for wheezing, asthma, and other respiratory issues. The psychological toll is also significant, as exposure to particulate matter can increase the odds of postpartum depression by 25%.
Climate-driven events like wildfires and dust storms add another layer of risk, releasing hazardous materials and fine particles that can cause respiratory illnesses and even death. Wildfire smoke can also reduce breastfeeding as women struggle to find safe spaces and lactation support.
Extreme weather events, such as floods and tropical storms, are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. These events are particularly devastating for women and children, often leading to a disproportionate number of deaths. For example, a 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka killed twice as many women as men.
Beyond the immediate danger, floods and storms pose severe long-term risks. They can disrupt access to healthcare facilities, making it difficult for pregnant women to receive essential care or reach a hospital for delivery. These disasters can destroy homes and livelihoods, leading to displacement, poverty, and food insecurity, which, in turn, can cause malnutrition. Malnutrition in pregnant women can increase the risk of gestational diabetes, anemia, and low birth weight in their newborns.
Floods can also expose women and children to contaminated water, pathogens, and hazardous materials, leading to waterborne diseases and infections. These events also take a significant toll on mental health, with mothers facing increased risks of depression and post-traumatic stress.
A study found that floods are associated with low birth weight and higher rates of miscarriage. Hurricanes have also been linked to premature births.
The evidence is clear: climate change is a critical public health issue that demands urgent, targeted action. The LSHTM’s modeling of health outcomes in Kenya and South Africa found that even in the best-case low-emissions scenario, climate change will undermine progress in child health. In intermediate and high-emissions scenarios, childhood mortality and preterm birth rates are projected to rise significantly, reversing decades of hard-won gains.
To address these challenges, the LSHTM report recommends a three-pronged approach: policy and advocacy, monitoring and planning, and adapting healthcare delivery. This includes integrating the needs of women and children into national climate and health plans, investing in research on understudied threats like drought and water scarcity, and strengthening health systems to be more resilient to climate shocks. It also involves promoting individual heat-mitigation behaviors, and delivering essential nutritional supplements to combat food insecurity.
The future of women and children, and in many cases their lives, depend on immediate and sustained action to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
💡 It’s easy to focus on conserving and protecting nature, but the real-world benefits of climate conservation go way beyond the forest. This report underscores our intrinsic connection and reliance on nature for our well-being, and how it impacts our lives often in significant ways we might not be aware of. The destruction of ecosystems and loss of biodiversity directly undermines the very systems that sustain us, making nature conservation not just an environmental issue, but a fundamental pillar of human survival and prosperity.
💡 Climate change is a threat multiplier for gender inequality, and its impacts can exacerbate the risk of gender-based violence. When extreme weather events like floods or droughts displace communities, women and girls are often forced to migrate to new, unfamiliar areas. This displacement can sever social support networks and expose them to increased risks of exploitation, sexual violence, and trafficking. In some regions, economic stress and food insecurity resulting from climate change are linked to a rise in harmful practices such as child marriage and transactional sex. These practices can lead to early pregnancies, infections, and a host of other health issues, further compounding the health challenges that women face.
