HEAT, HEALTH AND ECONOMIC TOLL ESCALATE

India is experiencing severe health and economic impacts from climate change, with extreme heat causing a 50% rise in lost labour hours since the 1990s, leading to billions in economic losses. Rising nighttime temperatures contribute to sleep deprivation, worsening public health, while air pollution and drought pose additional threats. With rising sea levels and increasing infectious diseases, experts urge urgent shifts to clean energy. The Lancet Countdown calls for a global financial overhaul to prioritise health and sustainability, especially as COP29 approaches

- SVKRISHNA CHAITANYA

INDIA is grappling with the harsh realities of climate change, which have placed intense pressures on health and economic stability. Recent findings from the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change 2024 report reveal the extent of this crisis, with a 50% increase in potential labour hours lost to extreme heat since the 1990s. This has led to economic losses valued at $141 billion in 2023, with the agricultural sector alone accounting for $71.9 billion in income lost due to diminished labour capacity under intense heat conditions.

From 2014 to 2023, nearly 42.7% of India's land area experienced extreme drought conditions for at least a month each year-double the frequency seen in the 1950s. This recurring drought has led to serious threats to food and water security, a crisis that no longer can be ignored.

The health impacts of heat exposure are particularly severe for vulnerable groups like infants, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions. People in India faced an average of 2,400 hours, or about 100 days, of high heat risk for outdoor activities like walking in 2023 alone. Between 2014 and 2023, heatwave exposure increased significantly, with infants and adults over 65 experiencing an average of 7.7 and 8.4 days of annual exposure, representing a 47% and 58% increase respectively compared to the 1990s.