Heat-linked deaths surge 36% since Paris pact; India in firing line

Heat-related deaths have increased 36 percent globally in the years following the Paris Agreement, according to latest research, underscoring the accelerating human cost of climate change. India faces particular vulnerability, with citizens increasingly exposed to dangerous heat stress conditions that threaten both health and livelihoods.

Indians experience over 2,600 hours annually during which heat reaches moderate or higher risk levels for heat stress during moderate outdoor physical activity, the data shows. This prolonged exposure places millions at risk, especially those working outdoors in agriculture, construction, and informal sectors who cannot easily escape extreme temperatures.

The findings reflect a troubling trend across South Asia, where rising temperatures are outpacing global averages. Climate scientists warn that without accelerated mitigation efforts, heat-related mortality and morbidity will continue climbing, straining healthcare systems and productivity across the region.

Experts emphasize that the health impacts of climate change demand urgent action beyond international climate commitments. India will need comprehensive strategies including enhanced early warning systems, improved urban cooling infrastructure, and workplace protections for outdoor labourers to mitigate the expanding crisis.

The research underscores how climate change is no longer a future threat but a present-day public health emergency reshaping mortality patterns across Asia's most populous nation.