Climate change is increasingly recognized for its wide-ranging effects on physical and mental health. However, its influence on children’s early developmental foundations has been less explored. To address this gap, a study examined how long-term exposure to high temperatures affects early childhood development in 19,607 children aged three to four from Georgia, The Gambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Sierra Leone, and the State of Palestine. The study found that children who experienced mean monthly maximum temperatures above 32°C from birth to assessment were significantly less likely to meet expected developmental milestones.
The strongest deficits appeared in literacy and numeracy skills. The impact of heat exposure was predominantly observed among children from poorer households, those living in urban settings, and those without adequate water and sanitation. Overall, the findings…
