An analysis by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that nearly half a billion children are experiencing at least twice the number of extremely hot days annually compared to their grandparents. This alarming increase in extreme heat days, defined as temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), underscores the rapid pace of climate change and its profound impact on younger generations. The analysis compared the 1960s with averages from 2020 to 2024, revealing that one in five children now faces a drastic rise in extremely hot days.
Highlighting the development, UNICEF’s Executive Director, Catherine Russell said, “The hottest summer days now seem normal. Extreme heat is increasing, disrupting children’s health, well-being, and daily routines.” The data shows a stark contrast in country-level experiences.
For instance, in South Sudan, children are enduring an average of 165 extremely hot days annually, a significant increase from the 110 days recorded in the 1960s. Similarly, children in Paraguay now face 71 extremely hot days per year, almost double the number from six decades ago. Globally, children in West and Central Africa are facing the highest exposure to extremely hot days.
Approximately 123 million children, or 39 percent of the region’s youth, now endure temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius for more than a third of the year. UNICEF further disclosed that In countries like Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Sudan, the heat .