When the Temperature Rises: How Local Heat Exposure Relates to Public Opinions on Reproductive Rights in the United States
A Brief Summary
Extreme heat is the most common weather-related cause of death in the United States, and extremely hot days are predicted to become more and more common as climate change continues. Being exposed to extreme heat can be unhealthy for everyone, but it can be especially unsafe for pregnant people and their babies. This is because a pregnant person’s body changes to allow the fetus to grow, but these changes affect the person’s ability to control their body temperature and adjust to extreme heat. As a result, extreme heat can make miscarriages, stillbirths, premature births, and birth defects more likely to happen.
This problem involves two widely-debated issues in American politics: climate change and reproductive health. Americans hold many different opinions on whether climate change is a problem or not. Many believe it would mostly affect other parts of the world, and would not affect them personally in the near future. However, climate change opinions can depend on a person’s experience and the part of the country they live in, since different regions have different weather patterns. Americans are also divided on the topic of reproductive health, especially abortion. Many people completely support abortion, and many are completely against it, but others may consider different factors in the pregnant person’s environment or situation. Opinions on abortion also vary across different parts of the country, based on the region’s social and cultural beliefs.
Even though climate change and reproductive health are both widely discussed, the connection between these issues is not well-known to the public. Many Americans are unaware of how extreme heat can affect their health in general. On the other hand, researchers, doctors, and other health experts understand how dangerous extreme heat can be for pregnant people. However, many feel unprepared or unsure of how to talk about these issues with patients. Based on this gap in awareness, and the fact that opinions on both topics depend on location, we explored whether there is a connection between extreme heat events and opinions on reproductive rights across the United States. We found that in states with more days of extreme heat, people tend to more strongly oppose state policies that limit access to abortion services. As the threat of extreme heat grows and conversations continue, this study shows that it is important to spread awareness of how climate change and reproductive health are connected, especially since pregnant people are at greater risk of being harmed.
For a full understanding of the study, please refer to the paper presented below.
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APA Citation: Grayon, A. R., Co, L., Iino, P., Rajpal, R.R. (2026). When the Temperature Rises: How Local Heat Exposure Relates to Public Opinions on Reproductive Rights in the United States. PPL Institute. https://pplinstitute.org/When-the-Temperature-Rises-How-Local-Heat-Exposure-Relates-to-Public-Opinions-on-Reproductive-Rights-in-the-United-States.html