Climate change and its impact on our sleep

Global warming is affecting something vital for our health and well-being: sleep. A report from Climate Action Tracker indicates that, if drastic emission cuts are not made, global temperatures could rise by 2.7 °C by the end of the century. This temperature increase not only has visible consequences but also silent ones, such as the gradual loss of sleep hours, affecting millions worldwide. Here’s the full explanation.

Damage to nighttime rest

A 2022 study published in the journal One Earth confirmed that rising temperatures are harming nighttime rest globally. Currently, people lose an average of 44 hours of sleep each year due to heat. When outdoor temperatures exceed 30 ° C, about 15 minutes of sleep are lost each night. Although it may seem small, this reduction affects deep, restorative slow-wave sleep, which is key for physical and mental recovery.

Which groups are most affected?

People over 70 years old can lose up to 30 minutes of sleep per night during hot weather, double the general average. Residents of low- and middle-income countries suffer a sleep impact three times greater than those in developed countries.

Polaris and the role of thermal regulation

Nick Obradovich, lead researcher of the study “Nighttime Temperature and Human Sleep Loss in a Changing Climate,” explains that for restorative sleep to begin, body temperature needs to drop. When body temperature remains high, sleep is disrupted. Therefore, in conditions of high heat, thermal regulation is key to good rest.

Fortunately, textile technology has advanced, and products like the POLARIS cooling and waterproof bed sheet exist, designed to combat nighttime sweating and hot flashes. This fabric regulates body temperature, lowering it by up to 1 °C, helping maintain comfort and improve sleep quality. By regulating temperature during extreme heat waves—becoming more frequent due to climate change—this sheet helps minimize sleep disruption caused by overheating.

The POLARIS fitted sheet, made from natural-origin fabric and produced sustainably and socially responsibly, represents a conscious and effective choice. Choosing brands that integrate these values is more important than ever, since climate change is largely a consequence of our human actions. In this way, taking care of our rest not only improves our health but also encourages responsible consumption that can help mitigate environmental impact.