When most people hear about climate change, they often imagine flooded streets or wildfires blazing out in the wild. But the threat is much closer to home. For pregnant women in New York and across the country, rising heat, poor air quality, environmental toxins, contaminated water, and toxins from climate disasters are making pregnancy more dangerous. Even more alarming, research shows links between maternal exposure to air pollution and extreme heat with long-term risks like autism spectrum disorders in children. Climate change isn’t just a future problem for our grandchildren, it is harming mothers and babies right now.
My name is Sthecy Montilus, and I write as both a public health student and a parent who knows how fragile pregnancy can be. I grew up in a working-class household where access to clean air, safe housing, and affordable healthcare was never guaranteed. Like many New Yorkers, I have seen how vulnerable families suffer first when heat waves hit or when buildings aren’t maintained properly. I share the same concerns that parents across our city hold: we want healthy pregnancies, safe communities, and strong futures for our children. Protecting maternal health is not a political issue, it is a basic human value we all share.
The evidence is clear. Pregnant women exposed to high levels of air pollution are at higher risk for preterm birth and low birth weight. Prenatal exposure to air pollution and extreme heat is associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder later in a child's life. Climate change intensifies these risks by increasing smog, driving heat waves, and worsening environmental hazards in already overburdened neighborhoods.
These outcomes are not evenly distributed. Black, Hispanic, and low-income mothers are disproportionately affected because they are more likely to live near highways, industrial areas, or in housing with poor air circulation. Air pollution does not only affect children; it is also toxic to women's health, as studies show exposure is associated with higher rates of depression.
If I had the influence to create legislation, I would propose policies that improve indoor air quality in housing for low-income families, provide climate resilience grants for expectant mothers, and ensure every pregnant woman has access to safe cooling spaces during heat emergencies. I would encourage stronger investment in green infrastructure, like cooling centers and tree canopies that protect women during heat waves. Expanding clean energy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels cuts harmful air pollution that damages fetal development. Public health agencies should prioritize maternal health in climate action plans, including targeted monitoring of pregnancy outcomes in high-risk communities. These are not abstract policies; they are concrete steps that keep mothers safe and give children a healthier start.
Some people may argue that addressing climate change is too costly or politically divisive. But what is the cost of doing nothing? Families already carry the emotional and financial burdens of autism, asthma, and other conditions linked to environmental exposures. Investing now reduces healthcare costs in the long run and ensures that every child, regardless of zip code, has the chance to grow up healthy.
Protecting pregnant women from the worst effects of climate change is not only the right thing to do, it is also the smart thing to do for our economy, our health system, and our collective future. As a mother and a public health professional in training, I believe our leaders have a responsibility to act boldly. Climate change is not waiting, and neither can we. Protecting pregnant women today means giving the next generation a fighting chance. A safer, healthier future for mothers and children is possible, but only if we recognize climate change for what it is: the most urgent public health issue of our time.
Sthecy Montilus is a student at SUNY Downstate School of Public Health in Brooklyn.
