New Delhi: India experienced an average of nearly 20 days of extreme heat in 2024, including around six days directly attributed to climate change, according to the latest global analysis published by The Lancet.
The report, The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change 2025, warns that rising temperatures are severely impacting public health and productivity. In 2024, extreme heat led to a staggering 247 billion hours of lost labor worldwide, equating to nearly 420 hours per person—a 124% increase from levels recorded between 1990 and 1999.
In India, the agricultural sector bore the brunt, accounting for 66% of lost labor hours, while construction contributed 20%, the report notes. Economically, the heat-related reduction in work capacity is projected to have cost approximately US$194 billion in potential earnings last year.
Compiled by 128 experts from 71 universities and UN agencies, led by University College London, the report offers the most comprehensive assessment yet of the intersection between climate change and human health. It comes ahead of the COP30 UN Climate Change Conference, highlighting the urgent need for mitigation and adaptation strategies.
The Lancet study emphasizes that over-reliance on fossil fuels and insufficient climate adaptation measures are placing lives, health, and livelihoods at risk. Twelve out of twenty indicators tracking climate impacts on health reached all-time highs.
Specific findings for India include:
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19.8 average days of heat in 2024, with 6.6 days linked to climate change.
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Annual deaths linked to PM2.5 pollution from forest fires averaged 10,200 between 2020 and 2024, marking a 28% rise compared to 2003–2012.
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In 2022, anthropogenic PM2.5 exposure accounted for more than 1.7 million deaths globally, with 44% of this linked to fossil fuel use.
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Road transport using petrol contributed to 269,000 deaths worldwide.
The report underscores the pressing need for countries like India to reduce emissions, adapt urban infrastructure, and protect vulnerable populations from the growing threat of heat and air pollution.
“The human and economic costs of climate inaction are already being felt,” the report concludes, urging immediate global cooperation to prevent further loss of life and productivity.
