The impact of global warming
For several years now, global warming has been synonymous with concern and danger. This phenomenon is characterized by the gradual increase in the Earth's average temperature, caused by excess emissions of greenhouse gases such as CO2 or methane.
The consequences of global warming are multiple, ranging from rising sea levels due to melting glaciers, disruption of ecosystems to more frequent heat waves and droughts.
If the latter can also have a negative impact on our health such as the worsening of heart and respiratory diseases or stronger and longer allergies, it may also affect our brain abilities, especially those of children.
American researchers from the University of Chicago and the University of New York Steinhardt have indeed shown that rising temperatures could disrupt important stages of early learning in children.
A study of more than 19,000 children from six different countries
In a study published on December 8, 2025 in the journal
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, the research team explains that it analyzed data from more than 19,000 children aged three to four years old, living in Gambia, Georgia, Madagascar, Malawi, Palestine and Sierra Leone.
The researchers chose these countries because detailed information on children's development, living conditions and exposure to local climate variations was the easiest to access.
To examine whether heat affects young children's development, the research team used the Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI), which measures the following four areas: reading and numeracy, social and emotional skills, learning behaviors, and physical development.
It also integrated data from 2017 to 2020 from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), which provide information on education, health, nutrition and sanitation.
5 to 6.7% less likely to reach fundamental learning milestones
The results of this study showed that children exposed to temperatures on average above 30°C were 5 to 6.7% less likely to reach the fundamental stages of learning to read, calculate and write than children who were exposed to temperatures below 26°C.
The researchers also noticed that these learning delays were greater among children from poor families, living in cities or with limited access to drinking water.
“As early development lays the foundation for lifelong learning, physical and mental health, and overall well-being, these findings should alert researchers, policymakers, and professionals to the urgency of protecting children’s development in a warming world.”said Jorge Cuartas, lead author of the study and assistant professor of applied psychology at New York University Steinhardt.
Source: SciTechDaily
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