Heat Ignites Human Crisis

The World Health Organization has issued a stark warning—climate change is the greatest health threat of the 21st century. Particularly in low-income countries, where resources are scarce, the impact could be devastating. Rising temperatures are not only dismantling the social fabric of societies but are also threatening the global economy. Health systems are under pressure, productivity is falling, and the working class—especially those engaged in agriculture, construction, and tourism—is bearing the brunt of this crisis.

- Dr Govind Pareek

The rising heat is no longer a matter of changing weather patterns. It has begun to penetrate deeply into the human psyche, societal structures, and economic foundations. Once seen primarily as an environmental issue, climate change has now clearly emerged as a profound humanitarian crisis.

A study published in 2020 revealed that higher-than-average temperatures correspond with an increase in suicides, road accidents, social violence, and drowning incidents. These are not isolated events but indicators of psychological and physiological changes driven by excessive heat. Elevated temperatures lead to an increase in stress hormones in the human body, which in turn fuels aggression and violent behaviour.