Climate Change and Its Role in Temperature-Related Neonatal Mortality Across Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Climate Change and Its Role in Temperature-Related Neonatal Mortality Across Low- and Middle-Income Countries
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Climate
change is one of the most pressing global issues of our time, with far-reaching
impacts on ecosystems, economies, and societies. It refers to long-term shifts
in temperatures and weather patterns, primarily caused by human activities,
such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes.
The consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly evident, with more
frequent and severe weather events, rising sea levels, and disrupted
ecosystems.
The Science Behind Climate Change
At the core
of climate change is the greenhouse effect, a natural process that warms the
Earth's surface. When the Sun's energy reaches the Earth, it is absorbed and
then radiated back into space as heat. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide
(CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), trap some of this heat in the
atmosphere, preventing it from escaping into space. While the greenhouse effect
is essential for life on Earth, human activities have significantly increased
the concentration of these gases, leading to more heat being trapped and,
consequently, a warming planet.
Over the
past century, the Earth's average surface temperature has risen by about 1.2
degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit). This might seem like a small change,
but it has profound effects on global weather patterns and ecosystems. The
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that if global warming
exceeds 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the risks of severe
climate impacts will increase dramatically.
Causes of Climate Change
Burning of Fossil Fuels: The combustion of coal, oil, and natural gas for energy is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Power plants, vehicles, and industrial processes release significant amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Deforestation: Forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere. However, widespread deforestation, particularly in tropical regions, reduces the Earth's capacity to absorb CO2, exacerbating climate change.
Agriculture: Agricultural activities, including livestock farming and rice cultivation, produce methane and nitrous oxide, potent greenhouse gases. Additionally, the use of synthetic fertilizers contributes to N2O emissions.
Industrial Processes: Certain industrial activities, such as cement production, release CO2 and other greenhouse gases. The production of synthetic chemicals also contributes to the problem.
Neonatal Mortality Linked to Temperature Changes Driven by Climate Change
Asya Dimitrova and its team declare that the rapid
rise in atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs) due to human activities since the
onset of the industrial era has led to increasingly noticeable climate changes.
The past decade has been the warmest on record, with global average
temperatures now 0.95°C to 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels. This warming
trend poses an immediate and significant threat to human health, especially for
populations with limited physiological and socio-economic means to adapt.
Newborns are particularly vulnerable to extreme temperatures because of their physiological and anatomical characteristics. Infants in their first 28 days of life, especially those born prematurely or with low birth weight, have underdeveloped thermoregulatory systems and much narrower optimal body temperature ranges compared to adults. Their higher metabolic rates and lower sweating capabilities further limit their ability to cool down, while their smaller blood volumes and higher heart rates make their cardiovascular response to temperature extremes more precarious. Anatomically, preterm neonates have a high surface-area-to-mass ratio, making them susceptible to rapid heat loss and hypothermia. On the flip side, this also increases their risk of absorbing excessive heat from their environment, leading to dehydration and heat-related illnesses.
Severe
infections during the neonatal period, such as pneumonia and sepsis, can
further heighten an infant’s vulnerability to both heat and cold. The impact of
ambient temperatures may differ between very early neonates (infants within the
first 24 hours of life) and older neonates. In low- and middle-income countries
(LMICs), preterm birth and complications during delivery are leading causes of
early neonatal mortality, while infections are more common causes of death
later in the neonatal period. Non-optimal temperatures, particularly extreme
heat, have been linked to preterm births and pregnancy complications like
placental abruption, gestational hypertension, and gestational diabetes, all of
which can increase the risk of adverse outcomes for both mother and child.
Across countries, climate change was responsible for approximately 29% (ranging from 8% to 72% depending on the country) of the total burden of heat-related very early neonatal mortality. This equated to an estimated 168,835 very early neonatal deaths. The highest proportions of heat-related very early neonatal deaths attributed to climate change (≥65%) were found in the Philippines, Haiti, and Rwanda. On the other hand, climate change also contributed to a 35% reduction (country range: 10–69%) in cold-related very early neonatal mortality, preventing around 141,322 neonatal deaths .
The researchers findings reveal that climate change, by altering ambient temperatures, is already having a direct impact on the survival of newborns in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) around the world. The rising temperatures observed over the past two decades have significantly increased neonatal deaths due to heat-related mortality while simultaneously reducing deaths associated with cold temperatures. However, the effects of climate change have been uneven, with the most significant losses from increased heat and some gains from reduced cold—occurring in countries with high baseline neonatal mortality rates and the greatest warming. Although the reduction in cold-related mortality may contribute to efforts to lower neonatal deaths, the benefits are likely to be outweighed by the growing toll of heat-related mortality as climate change continues. This trend underscores the urgent need for health impact projection studies to fully grasp the future risks that climate change poses to pregnant women and newborns, particularly in LMICs with limited adaptive capacities, frequent neonatal deaths, and large vulnerable populations.
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