According to a new report by The Lancet, almost one-third of the heatwave days India endured in 2024 were driven by climate change factors. The country faced an average of 19.8 heatwave days, of which 6.6 would not have occurred without human-induced climate shifts.
The report estimates that these extreme temperature episodes resulted in a loss of approximately 247 billion potential labor hours, predominantly affecting the agriculture and construction sectors, leading to an economic impact of around $194 billion.
While heatwaves have been a known phenomenon in India, their rising frequency and intensity can be attributed to global warming trends. This prolonged exposure to extreme heat poses severe health risks, including heatstroke and cardiovascular stress, particularly threatening vulnerable populations like the elderly and outdoor workers.
The findings from the 2025 Lancet Countdown report highlight a global crisis, with 152 extreme weather events reported last year in 61 countries. Each increment in global temperature brings increased mortality risks, with heat-related deaths rising by 23% since the 1990s.
Overall, the study paints a dire reality about the impacts of climate change on human health, emphasizing that the destruction of lives and livelihoods will accelerate until fossil fuel reliance is reduced.
Moreover, the report also addresses worsening air quality in India, linked to toxic winter pollution, which has contributed to 1.7 million deaths in 2022, largely from PM2.5 pollutants.
This crucial report arrives just ahead of the upcoming COP30 summit, underscoring the urgency for immediate climate action.
