Beat the Heat: Child Health Amid Heatwaves in Europe and Central Asia

The UNICEF policy brief highlights the link between heatwaves and air pollution, particularly noting that heat exacerbates the health impacts of air pollution on children. Extreme heat worsens air quality, increasing the incidence of respiratory diseases like asthma and pneumonia in children. Wildfire smoke, which is intensified by heatwaves, releases fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that is especially harmful to young children, leading to both short-term health issues and long-term developmental concerns​.