Overview

• A Climate Central study found that between 2020 and 2024, climate change doubled pregnancy heat-risk days in 222 of 247 regions worldwide.
• Extreme heat during pregnancy is linked to preterm birth, stillbirth, gestational diabetes, hypertension, and other complications, according to the World Health Organization and prior studies.
• The UK experienced an average of 26 pregnancy heat-risk days annually, half attributed to global warming, while the US saw a 12-day increase, with Utah reporting a 72% jump since 2020.
• Australia recorded 10 additional pregnancy heat-risk days annually, with Darwin seeing a 17-day surge, underscoring regional disparities in heat exposure.
• Experts call for urgent healthcare adaptations, including cooling infrastructure, early warning systems, and targeted policy interventions to protect maternal and infant health.