Rising heat linked to preterm births and maternal illness across five continents

United Nations climate chief Simon Stiell will warn on Monday, 5 October, that extreme heat has become a "fatal faultline" in the global climate crisis, disproportionately threatening pregnant women and newborns. Speaking at the "pre-COP" summit in Nadi, Fiji, Stiell is expected to present data linking rising temperatures to an increase in premature births, stillbirths, and maternal complications across five continents. Health professional survey reveals global impact The warning follows a new survey of 1,000 midwives and doctors commissioned by the Wellcome charitable foundation. The study, conducted across the United Kingdom, Australia, India, Brazil, and Zimbabwe, found that more than two-thirds of health professionals observed heat-related pregnancy complications within the last five years. Nearly all respondents reported caring for mothers or infants suffering from the effects of intense heat. According to the survey, approximately one-third of medical professionals encountered cases of low birth weight, restricted growth, and neonatal dehydration attributed to extreme temperature spikes. Julia Gillard, chairwoman of Wellcome and former Australian Prime Minister, stated that leaders now possess the evidence required to act against what she described as an "invisible killer." Rising temperatures and regional records The health warning comes as climate scientists confirm that 33 countries recorded their hottest July on record in 2026. Data from the European Union’s…