Washington, D.C. — While 2023 was the hottest year recorded in human history, 2024 is already well on its way to exceed it. New analysis from the Center for American Progress provides recommendations to offset the risks extreme heat poses to young children’s health, development, and learning.
Currently, there is no federal safety standard in place defining the point at which temperatures become hot enough to endanger children’s health, despite children being especially vulnerable to high heat. Many pediatricians agree temperatures above 85 degrees pose a threat to children’s health, with additional risks due to high humidity, direct sunlight, and physical activity.
In this report, CAP policy experts describe solutions at both the federal and state policymaking levels that could better protect children and educators from the effects of extreme heat.
The report recommends five key actions for policymakers:
- A heat safety standard for children should be developed by the federal government and adopted by state and local policymakers.
- State-level data collection should be expanded to better inform advocacy and funding for school infrastructure improvements.
- Future federal infrastructure and early learning bills should include funding for schools and child care facilities.
- Federal and state agencies should help schools and child care programs access grants and other resources to help fund clean energy infrastructure projects.
- Policymakers should prioritize environmental justice by focusing funding and resources on the communities most affected by climate change.
“Young children bear the least responsibility for human-driven climate change, but they face disproportionately severe consequences from the extreme temperatures stemming from it,” said Hailey Gibbs, senior policy analyst for Early Childhood at CAP and co-author of the report. “Leaders at all levels of government need to take child-centered, community-driven actions to address the threats of extreme heat and protect the next generation.”
“We can’t protect children from extreme heat without addressing the threats of climate change and pollution,” said Paige Shoemaker DeMio, policy analyst for K-12 Education at CAP and co-author of the report. “Policymakers need to build on the Biden administration’s ambitious climate agenda to accelerate the transition from fossil fuel energy sources toward a clean energy economy.”
Read the report: “Protecting Children From Extreme Heat Is Critical for Their Health, Learning, and Development” by Allie Schneider, Paige Shoemaker DeMio, Hailey Gibbs, and Lisette Partelow
For more information or to speak with an expert, contact Mishka Espey at [email protected].