India Faces Rising Heat Risk: 57% Districts at High or Very High Risk

Extreme Heat Risk in India Latest News

• A recent study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), titled ‘How Extreme Heat is Impacting India’, reveals that 57% of Indian districts, home to 76% of the population, face high or very high risk from extreme heat. 
• States facing the highest risk include Delhi, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. 

• The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), based in New Delhi, is one of the world’s leading and best-managed independent climate think tanks.

Understanding Heat Risk: Not the Same as Heatwaves or Heat Stress

• Heatwaves
  • While they do not have a universal definition, heatwaves are essentially prolonged periods of abnormally high temperatures in a specific region.
• Heat Stress
  • Occurs when the body temperature exceeds 37°C.
  • Body struggles to release excess heat, causing discomfort, cramps, and exhaustion.
  • If body temperature exceeds 40°C, it may lead to heat stroke.
• Heat Risk
  • According to the CEEW study, heat risk refers to the probability of heat-related illness or death due to extreme temperatures.
  • It is determined by three key factors:
    • Intensity of heat and compounding effects (e.g., humidity),
    • Degree of exposure, and
    • Vulnerability of affected communities (e.g., age, health conditions).

Key Factors Driving Heat Risk in India

• Rise in Very Warm Nights
  • Between 2012 and 2022, over 70% of Indian districts experienced five or more additional very warm nights each summer.
  • Warm nights prevent the body from cooling down after hot days, increasing the risk of heat strokes and worsening non-communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension.
• Increase in Relative Humidity in North India
  • Relative humidity in the Indo-Gangetic Plain rose from 30–40% (1982–2011) to 40–50% (2012–2022).
  • High humidity hampers cooling through sweat, intensifying heat stress, especially when body temperature exceeds 37°C.
• Urbanisation and Population Density
  • Cities like Mumbai and Delhi face higher exposure due to dense populations.
  • Rapid urbanisation in tier II and III cities has led to increased night-time heat due to heat-absorbing concrete infrastructure.
• Socio-Economic and Health Vulnerabilities
  • Districts in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh are particularly vulnerable.
  • Factors include a high share of elderly populations and prevalence of chronic health conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension).

Key Findings of The Study

• 2024: Warmest Year on Record
  • 2024 marked the hottest year globally, including in India.
  • Global average temperature was 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels (1850–1900).
  • India’s temperature was 1.2°C higher than the 1901–1910 average.
• India’s Climate Impact: Already Evident
  • India experienced its longest recorded heatwave since 2010.
  • Over 44,000 cases of heatstroke were reported in 2024 alone.
• Inadequate Heat Action Plans (HAPs)
  • India’s HAPs (early warning and preparedness plans) are often:
  • Lacking long-term strategies, or
  • Poorly implemented, even when they exist.
  • According to the Sustainable Futures Collaborative (SFC), this weakens India’s response to growing heat threats.
• Future Risks
  • Without stronger planning and execution, heat-related deaths may rise.
  • The country faces increasing threats from more frequent, intense, and prolonged heatwaves.

Source: IE |  WEF