UN Agencies Launch Framework to Track Extreme Heat Risks for Women and Children

A coalition of United Nations agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), UNICEF, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), launched a new framework on Thursday to help countries monitor the health impacts of extreme heat on pregnant women, newborns, and children.

The framework introduces a set of priority indicators designed to improve data collection, strengthen preparedness, and accelerate public health responses to climate-related risks. According to the agencies, extreme heat poses significant threats to maternal and child health, with cited research indicating that heat exposure is linked to a 26% increase in the odds of preterm birth.

Data presented by the organizations also shows that infants under one year old faced 389% more heatwave days in 2024 than during the 1986–2005 baseline period. Globally, an estimated 1.5 billion children are currently exposed to more frequent, prolonged, or intense heatwaves.

Under the new guidance, health systems are encouraged to track specific metrics alongside heat-exposure data, such as air temperatures. Recommended indicators include rates of preterm births, stillbirths, low birthweight, pregnancy-induced hypertension, child mortality, and heat-related visits to healthcare facilities. The report also suggests tracking school attendance to assess broader disruptions to children's daily routines.

WHO officials stated that combining routine health metrics with environmental data will allow authorities to identify high-risk communities, anticipate surges in healthcare demand, and issue targeted warnings. The agency is urging governments to incorporate these indicators into context-specific heat-health action plans and early warning systems to mitigate preventable harm among vulnerable populations.

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