Barranquilla and Acapulco lead Latin America in sleep loss due to climate change, study finds

A new study by Climate Central reveals that residents of Barranquilla, Colombia, and Acapulco, Mexico, lose 93 hours of sleep annually due to nighttime heat, with six of those hours directly attributable to climate change. Source: eltiempoco, infobae The global analysis of 1,338 cities found that the average person lost nearly 56 hours of sleep per year between 2020 and 2025, with climate change accounting for more than six hours. The impact has doubled since the 1970s in 1,335 cities. Source: clarin, diariolibree

Regional impact

Other heavily affected cities include Cartagena (Mexico) and Cancún (91 hours, five to six due to climate change), Belém, Brazil (84 hours), Caracas (67 hours), and Cali, Colombia (61 hours). Source: infobae Even temperate cities like Buenos Aires show measurable effects: 44 hours lost annually, four attributable to climate change. In Argentina, six cities recorded losses between 27 and 44 hours. Source: clarin, infobae

Urban heat islands and inequality

The study highlights that urban heat islands—areas with concrete and scarce vegetation—amplify nighttime temperatures. Access to air conditioning remains highly unequal; researchers warn that lower-income populations may experience even greater sleep loss. Source: diariolibree, eltiempoco Rita Issa of the Tyndall Center notes, "Sleep is essential for physical and mental health, but it's often one of the first things affected during extreme heat." Source: clarin Courtney Howard, president of the Climate and Health Alliance, called sleep disruption "a growing concern for public health and human productivity." Source: infobae

Local response

In Barranquilla, city council member Antonio Bohórquez proposed urban planning and tree-planting measures to combat the heat island effect, approved in a first debate. Source: eltiempoco The initiative aims to fulfill a previous government commitment to lower temperatures by six degrees Celsius.