In India, over the past decade, infants and adults aged 65 and older have faced an average of eight days of heatwaves per year—an increase of 47% for infants and 58% for older adults compared to 1990-1999, according to a new Lancet Countdown report on Health and Climate Change.
In 2023 alone, people in India were at moderate or higher risk of heat stress for approximately 2,400 hours, or 100 days, even with light activities such as walking. This eighth annual report, prepared by 122 experts from 57 institutions and UN agencies worldwide, including the WHO and WMO, was published ahead of COP29 and provides a country-specific analysis of climate change’s impact on health.
The report indicates that 10 out of 15 key indicators monitoring climate-related health threats globally, such as rising nighttime temperatures and extreme rainfall, reached alarming records. Economically, the report highlights that India’s agricultural sector was severely affected, with potential income losses from reduced labor capacity estimated at over USD 71.9 billion in 2023. In total, around 181 billion labor hours were likely lost due to heat exposure in 2023—a 50% rise compared to 1990-1999.
This report offers the latest insights into the health impacts of climate change, with the authors urging governments and businesses to reduce fossil fuel investments, greenhouse gas emissions, and implement necessary adaptations. Fossil fuel combustion contributes to high air pollution, linked to a wide range of health issues like respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological disorders. Shifting to renewable energy could reduce air pollution and greenhouse emissions, benefiting overall health.
The authors also warn that warming conditions are now more favorable for the spread of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria. From 2014-2023, the extent of India’s coastline suitable for Vibrio pathogens, which cause diseases like cholera, increased by 23% compared to 1990-1999. Additionally, in the last decade, the population living within 100 kilometers of coastal waters suitable for Vibrio transmission has exceeded 210 million.
