Climate change caused over 10,000 premature births in South and Southeast Asia during a heatwave in April 2024

A recent study by Zero Carbon Analytics highlights the link between climate change and premature births, analyzing the heatwave in South Asia in April 2024. Researchers found that out of 16,150 premature births in India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines, 10,500 were attributed to climate change, with 8,830 occurring in India alone. The extreme heat, lasting 15 to 18 days, raised temperatures by 7 to 10 degrees above seasonal norms, peaking at 47.2 °C in West Bengal. This research builds on existing knowledge of the relationship between human-induced climate change and increased premature births.