UN's Simon Stiell Warns of Extreme Heat Risks to Mothers

Simon Stiell, the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, addressed the Birthright event in Suva, Fiji, warning that extreme heat is becoming a significant threat to pregnant women, newborns, and maternal healthcare systems due to climate change. He stated that rising temperatures are increasingly associated with pregnancy complications, premature births, stillbirths, and low birth weight.

A survey commissioned by Wellcome revealed that 73% of maternal health professionals reported an increase in heat-related complications over the past five years. Stiell highlighted that 98% of respondents had cared for pregnant women affected by extreme heat, and 99% reported caring for babies impacted by it.

He stressed that climate change could exacerbate inequalities in maternal healthcare access, particularly for women in vulnerable communities. Stiell called for the integration of maternal and newborn health into climate adaptation and heat-health planning, emphasizing that issues not included in policy plans often lack funding and protection.