Protecting Children From Climate Change And Rising Temperatures
Flames quickly grow as firefighters set a backfire on the eastern front of the Park Fire, which has grown to 360,141 acres and is 12 percent contained near Chico, California. David McNew/Getty Images hide caption
Flames quickly grow as firefighters set a backfire on the eastern front of the Park Fire, which has grown to 360,141 acres and is 12 percent contained near Chico, California.
David McNew/Getty ImagesIt's been a brutal year for wildfires. Nearly 100 are raging right now across the U.S. And the season's peak hasn't even arrived.
In California, the Park Fire has gobbled up 400,000 acres since July 24, making it the fourth-largest blaze in state history.
Worsening wildfires are a result of climate change, which has created drier, warmer conditions.
That's dangerous for those in the path of the flames – but also downwind. Kids' lungs are especially vulnerable to the smoke. Their growing bodies are more at risk from climate change's effects – like worsening air quality and rising temperatures – than adults.
Why is that the case? And how do we keep them safe?
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