A report finds Indians faced nearly 20 heatwave days on average in 2024, with climate change driving steep losses in productivity and health

India faced an unprecedented rise in heatwave exposure in 2024, with people experiencing nearly 20 heatwave days on average, according to The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change 2025 Report. Of these, about six-and-a-half days would not have been expected without climate change.

The report, prepared by 128 experts from 71 academic institutions and United Nations agencies and led by University College London, found that the country lost 247 billion potential labour hours last year. This was equivalent to nearly 420 hours per person and marked a 124 per cent increase compared to the 1990s. The reduced work capacity from heat exposure resulted in an estimated income loss of 194 billion US dollars in 2024.

The agriculture sector accounted for 66 per cent of the total losses, while construction contributed 20 per cent. The report, released ahead of the 30th United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP30), said that continued reliance on fossil fuels and a lack of adaptation measures were worsening health and livelihood risks.

It noted that 12 of 20 indicators tracking health threats reached record levels. Heat-related deaths have risen by 23 per cent since the 1990s to 546,000 annually, while the average global spread potential of dengue has increased by up to 49 per cent since the 1950s.

Between 2020 and 2024, India saw an average of 10,200 deaths per year linked to PM2.5 pollution from forest fires, a 28 per cent rise from 2003–2012 levels. Human-caused PM2.5 pollution led to more than 1.7 million deaths in 2022, with fossil fuels responsible for 44 per cent of them.