Climate change is driving rising temperatures and extreme weather events that pose serious health risks to women and pregnant women [1].
These environmental shifts matter because they create disproportionate vulnerabilities for women, who may face higher medical complications during heatwaves and extreme weather [1, 2].
Reporting from India highlights the impact of intense heatwaves on the female population [1]. Annette Young and Natasha Walter said the warming of the planet is creating a dangerous environment for maternal health [1].
Global temperatures are rising due to a warming El Niño climate pattern [1, 2]. This pattern intensifies heatwaves and increases the frequency of extreme weather events worldwide [1, 2].
Pregnant women are identified as a particularly high-risk group during these temperature spikes [1]. The intersection of physiological changes during pregnancy and extreme external heat creates a critical health vulnerability [1].
While the effects are seen worldwide, the situation in India serves as a primary example of how these climate patterns manifest as immediate health crises [1]. The combination of systemic environmental shifts, and biological vulnerability, increases the risk of adverse health outcomes for women [1, 2].
“Climate change is driving rising temperatures and extreme weather events that pose serious health risks to women.”
The disproportionate impact of climate change on women underscores a growing intersection between environmental policy and public health. As El Niño patterns intensify heatwaves, the specific biological and social vulnerabilities of pregnant women may lead to increased maternal morbidity if healthcare systems do not adapt to extreme heat conditions.
