Tackling extreme heat risks in India
2 years, 8 months ago

Tackling extreme heat risks in India

Hindustan Times  

Delhi recorded its fifth consecutive day of heat wave on Monday. Extreme heat exposures, already a public health emergency in India that killed an estimated 46,600 people aged 65 or older in 2019, continue to worsen. A robust public health policy response to extreme heat events must include early warning systems, effective outreach strategies to improve community awareness, and tailored measures to reach vulnerable populations. As the climate crisis heightens extreme heat risks in India, authorities must work to further strengthen these plans and adapt them in consultation with local communities. After all, climate resilience is, in part, about asking people to think differently and see extreme heat and other climate challenges as solvable public health issues.

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History of this topic

Heatwave hotspots that should not exist are popping up across the world
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Heatwave hotspots that should not exist are popping up across the world

India Today  

The year 2023 has officially been recorded as the hottest year in history, with global temperatures averaging 2.12 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century average, surpassing the previous record set in 2016. Amid this unprecedented rise in temperatures, a new study reveals a concerning phenomenon: certain regions across the globe are experiencing extreme heat waves that exceed predictions made by climate …

Amid weather extremes, India demands West up climate funding
1 month, 1 week ago

Amid weather extremes, India demands West up climate funding

Hindustan Times  

India is expected to reiterate its call for adequate climate finance from developed nations, including contributions running into trillions of dollars annually, as the UN Climate Change Conference began in Baku on Monday against the backdrop of unprecedented weather extremes that have battered India as well as the world, and new signs that the globe is on track for more …

Harsh weather sends up deaths by 144% in Telangana
1 month, 1 week ago

Harsh weather sends up deaths by 144% in Telangana

New Indian Express  

HYDERABAD: Over 1,81,419 acres of crop area were affected, 66 people died, and 4,350 animal deaths were reported, all due to extreme weather events which spanned over 50 days from January 1 to September 30, revealed ‘India Climate Report 2024’, launched by the Centre for Science and Environment and its publication, Down to Earth. CSE report said there had been …

Extreme weather conditions claimed 66 lives in TG so far this year
1 month, 1 week ago

Extreme weather conditions claimed 66 lives in TG so far this year

Deccan Chronicle  

HYDERABAD: Telangana has faced a punishing year of extreme weather so far, with deadly rains, scorching heat waves, and severe storms, which together claimed 66 lives, damaged 73,418 hectares of agricultural land and caused extensive infrastructure damage. The state endured 50 days of extreme weather, reflecting India’s broader climate crisis as documented in the “Climate India 2024: An Assessment of …

Extreme weather claimed over 3,200 lives in first 9 months of 2024: CSE report
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Extreme weather claimed over 3,200 lives in first 9 months of 2024: CSE report

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: Extreme weather events claimed over 3,200 lives and destroyed over 2.3 lakh houses in India in the first nine months of 2024, according to a new report. The report by the Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment said India faced extreme weather events on 93 per cent of the days in the year's first nine months …

Tamil Nadu Brace for Extreme Heat as State Warns of Heatwave
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Tamil Nadu Brace for Extreme Heat as State Warns of Heatwave

The Hindu  

Tamil Nadu is bracing for heatwaves, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in several parts of the state. The government has declared a State-specific disaster, providing relief to people affected by heatwaves, including providing medical assistance and financial aid to those who have lost loved ones to heat-related causes. Tamil Nadu is one of the regions in India that is particularly vulnerable …

Heat, Health and Economic Toll Escalate in India as Climate Crisis Grips the Nation
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Heat, Health and Economic Toll Escalate in India as Climate Crisis Grips the Nation

New Indian Express  

India is grappling with the harsh realities of climate change, with heat, health, and economic impacts escalating. The country is facing a 50% increase in potential labour hours lost to extreme heat since the 1990s, with economic losses valued at $141 billion in 2023. Rising sea levels threaten around 18.1 million Indians living less than a metre above sea level, …

Climate Change's Silent Toll: Mental Health in India Neglected
1 month, 4 weeks ago

Climate Change's Silent Toll: Mental Health in India Neglected

Live Mint  

The article highlights the significant impact of climate change on mental health in India, with a focus on the underreported and often neglected economic cost of mental health. It emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to address this issue, including investments in mental health resilience, healthcare infrastructure, and climate adaptation strategies. The article stresses the importance of integrating mental …

Extreme Weather Devastation: Central India Suffers the Most, As India Grapples with Crop Losses
2 months, 1 week ago

Extreme Weather Devastation: Central India Suffers the Most, As India Grapples with Crop Losses

News 18  

Extreme weather events have severely affected crop land in India, with Central India being the hardest-hit. The region has witnessed a 54% increase in crop area affected due to extreme weather events compared to 2022. The state has been particularly hard-hit, with Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Himachal Pradesh also suffering significant losses.

Health matters newsletter: Excessive heat declared a T.N. State disaster
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Health matters newsletter: Excessive heat declared a T.N. State disaster

The Hindu  

In what could well be tagged as a ‘pioneering’ move, one that is in sync with the current global concern of the effects of climate change, Tamil Nadu went ahead and declared heatwaves as State-specific disasters and announced an ex-gratia for heat-related deaths. The World Health Organization says the number of people exposed to extreme heat is growing exponentially due …

India experiences the second hottest period since 1970 due to climate change
3 months ago

India experiences the second hottest period since 1970 due to climate change

The Hindu  

The months of June, July, and August 2024 recorded India’s second-hottest season since 1970, a report titled, People Exposed to Climate Change: June-August 2024 released on Wednesday by climate experts at Climate Central said. “Over 20.5 million people experienced high temperatures exceptionally influenced by climate change for at least 60 days in the past three months, making India the Southern …

Why India must prioritise women in climate action
3 months, 1 week ago

Why India must prioritise women in climate action

Hindustan Times  

In today’s times, we all witness climate crises in some form or another in our daily lives. Second, realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of women-led development as a cornerstone of Viksit Bharat requires addressing women's vulnerability to the climate crisis. Climate crisis Historically, women have played a key role as primary caregivers and food producers in India, especially in …

Over 85% of Indian districts exposed to extreme climate events: Study
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Over 85% of Indian districts exposed to extreme climate events: Study

The Hindu  

More than 85% of districts in India are exposed to extreme climate events such as floods, droughts and cyclones, according to a new study. The study by IPE Global and Esri India also found that 45% of the districts were experiencing a "swapping" trend, where traditionally flood-prone areas were becoming drought-prone and vice versa. Using a penta-decadal analysis, the study …

My life at 50C: India’s new reality of extreme heat
3 months, 3 weeks ago

My life at 50C: India’s new reality of extreme heat

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Life at 50C: Delhi’s streets struggling to cope with heatwave At least 110 people died from heatstroke across the …

United Nations urges nations to adopt several proposals aimed at reducing heat deaths; asks to care for vulnerable people
4 months, 3 weeks ago

United Nations urges nations to adopt several proposals aimed at reducing heat deaths; asks to care for vulnerable people

The Hindu  

After three of Earth's hottest days ever measured, the United Nations called for a flurry of efforts to try to reduce the human toll from soaring and searing temperatures, calling it “an extreme heat epidemic.” “If there is one thing that unites our divided world, it's that we're all increasingly feeling the heat,” United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said …

India reported 40,000 suspected heat stroke cases this summer
4 months, 4 weeks ago

India reported 40,000 suspected heat stroke cases this summer

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi: India has reported over 100 deaths and 40,000 cases of suspected heat stroke since the onset of summer in 2024, as of mid-June, according to the United Nations Call to Action on Extreme Heat released on Thursday. Heat exposure resulted in potential income losses equivalent to $863 billion in 2022. International Labour Organization data warns that over 70% …

India reported 40,000 suspected heat stroke cases this summer: UN report
4 months, 4 weeks ago

India reported 40,000 suspected heat stroke cases this summer: UN report

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi: India reported 40,000 cases of suspected heat stroke and over 100 deaths since the onset of summer in 2024, as of mid-June 30, according to a report from the United Nations Call to Action on Extreme Heat. The UN has recommended that countries adopt evidence-based policies, regulations multi-dimensional risk assessments and community-driven actions to protect the most vulnerable; …

UN asks nations to better prepare, cool the vulnerable as ‘extreme heat epidemic’ breaks records
4 months, 4 weeks ago

UN asks nations to better prepare, cool the vulnerable as ‘extreme heat epidemic’ breaks records

Associated Press  

After three of Earth’s hottest days ever measured, the United Nations called for a flurry of efforts to try to reduce the human toll from soaring and searing temperatures, calling it “an extreme heat epidemic.” “If there is one thing that unites our divided world, it’s that we’re all increasingly feeling the heat,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday …

‘International Cooperation is Required to Fight Heatwaves’: Climate Scientist Indu. K. Murthy
5 months ago

‘International Cooperation is Required to Fight Heatwaves’: Climate Scientist Indu. K. Murthy

The Hindu  

Published : Jul 23, 2024 17:21 IST - 7 MINS READ State governments and the Centre were caught on the back foot as they scrambled to implement heat action plans this summer as parts of India reeled under heatwaves, which killed 58 people in New Delhi alone. Governments must support research and innovation in heat resilience technologies and strategies, given …

Lack of heat-related death numbers shows that India is unprepared for the next crisis
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Lack of heat-related death numbers shows that India is unprepared for the next crisis

Hindustan Times  

Though India experienced one of its worst summers with record heatwave days and prolonged warm night periods since April across the country, a reliable estimate of how many lives were lost is not available. Climate change has impacted temperature-related neonatal deaths in all countries surveyed, with most pronounced climate-induced losses from increased heat and gains from decreased cold observed in …

India is likely undercounting heat deaths, affecting its response to increasingly harsh heat waves
5 months, 2 weeks ago

India is likely undercounting heat deaths, affecting its response to increasingly harsh heat waves

The Hindu  

Months of scorching temperatures sometimes over 50 degrees C in parts of India this year — its worst heat wave in over a decade — left hundreds dead or ill. Public health experts say the true number of heat-related deaths is likely in the thousands but because heat is often not listed as a reason on a death certificate many …

India is likely undercounting heat deaths, affecting its response to increasingly harsh heat waves
5 months, 2 weeks ago

India is likely undercounting heat deaths, affecting its response to increasingly harsh heat waves

Associated Press  

BENGALURU, India — Months of scorching temperatures sometimes over 50 degrees Celsius in parts of India this year — its worst heat wave in over a decade — left hundreds dead or ill. Public health experts say the true number of heat-related deaths is likely in the thousands but because heat is often not listed as a reason on a …

‘I’m in hell’: How rising heat is amplifying India’s social divides
5 months, 2 weeks ago

‘I’m in hell’: How rising heat is amplifying India’s social divides

Al Jazeera  

As intensifying climate conditions make work harder and more dangerous, many families ask how they will survive the ‘unbearable’ weather. “I’m leaving my studies and looking for a job now,” said Suraj, speaking at the family home. “How are we supposed to cope with this heat?” Increasing temperatures and humidity have drastically affected the working hours for millions in India, …

Time to climate-proof lives and livelihoods - The Hindu
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Time to climate-proof lives and livelihoods - The Hindu

The Hindu  

With his sweat-drenched T-shirt stuck to his body, Anup Majhi, 37, pauses for a moment beneath the AC blowers in the bus parked in Kolkata’s Esplanade area. “They were insistent that I should not go out in this heat.” From March 1 to June 18 this year, 110 people died due to heatstroke in India, according to data from the …

Tamil Nadu to declare heat waves as state-specific disaster soon
5 months, 4 weeks ago

Tamil Nadu to declare heat waves as state-specific disaster soon

New Indian Express  

CHENNAI: Revenue Minister KKSSR Ramachandran on Monday announced that heat wave would be declared as a state-specific disaster soon to enable the state government to take preventive steps for the condition as per the rules of the State Disaster Response Fund and offer relief assistance to those who get affected. The state has taken steps to help the people cope …

North India heat wave claims 143 lives between March and June; nearly 42,000 heat stroke cases
6 months ago

North India heat wave claims 143 lives between March and June; nearly 42,000 heat stroke cases

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: The unrelenting heat wave sweeping large parts of the country has claimed more lives, with 143 recorded deaths and 41,789 people suffering from suspected cases of heat stroke between March 1 and June 20 this year, Health Ministry sources said on Friday. According to official data, on June 20 alone, there were 14 confirmed deaths from heat stroke …

Extreme heat in India has killed more than 100 people in the past three and a half months
6 months ago

Extreme heat in India has killed more than 100 people in the past three and a half months

Associated Press  

NEW DELHI — A monthslong heat wave across swathes of India has killed more than 100 people and led to over 40,000 suspected cases of heat stroke in the past three and a half months, according to data from India’s Health Ministry. People rest under a stationary train coach on a hot summer day in Mumbai, India Climate experts also …

Heatwave killed over 190 homeless people in Delhi in 9 days: NGO report
6 months ago

Heatwave killed over 190 homeless people in Delhi in 9 days: NGO report

Hindustan Times  

An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across northern India has killed over 190 homeless people in New Delhi between June 11 and 19, according to a report by a Delhi-based NGO on Wednesday. Delhi heatwave: 192 homeless deaths reported, authorities issue heatwave precautions Follow- Delhi Weather Today Live A total of 192 homeless people died due to the heatwave in Delhi during …

Heatwave: Health Ministry Issues Advisory, Asks States & UTs To Submit Data On Heatstroke, Deaths Daily
6 months ago

Heatwave: Health Ministry Issues Advisory, Asks States & UTs To Submit Data On Heatstroke, Deaths Daily

ABP News  

As severe heatwave conditions have grappled several parts of the country, the Ministry of Health issued an advisory to all States and Union Territories to submit data on heatstroke cases and deaths, on daily basis. The health ministry has also directed the states and UTs to submit data regarding the total deaths from March 1, this year, and also make …

Cause and Effect | Delhi's scorching heatwaves call for urgent heat action plans
6 months ago

Cause and Effect | Delhi's scorching heatwaves call for urgent heat action plans

Hindustan Times  

Over the weekend, Delhi witnessed its second longest continuous spell of heatwave days — Sunday was the sixth — in June since 2014 when the month saw seven heatwave days. Ahmedabad: A success story The pioneering Ahmedabad heat action plan was implemented in 2013, introducing multi-level coordination, a three-tier warning system, and an overall year-round scaling up of infra. The …

Climate crisis made May heatwaves 1.5C hotter in India, study says
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Climate crisis made May heatwaves 1.5C hotter in India, study says

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The unprecedented heatwaves that scorched northern and central India in May were made 1.5 degrees …

States told to take steps to tackle heatwave, wildfires
6 months, 2 weeks ago

States told to take steps to tackle heatwave, wildfires

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: The Central government on Thursday directed state governments to ramp up preparedness to deal with heatwaves and forest fires. Chairing a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee to review preparedness, Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba urged chief secretaries to monitor measures to deal with heat waves. While North and central India has been under the grip of …

Equitable Health Solutions Can Help Rural India Combat Climate Change Related Challenges
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Equitable Health Solutions Can Help Rural India Combat Climate Change Related Challenges

News 18  

India is experiencing the aftereffects of climate change in an unprecedented manner. In fact, Food and Agricultural Organisation’s recent report underlines that poor households lose around five per cent of their total income annually due to heat stress compared to better-off households. Similar studies also suggest that along with health threats, extreme weather conditions unleash a multi-pronged impact on the …

India’s deadly heat kills over 200 people, including dozens of poll workers as elections wrap up
6 months, 2 weeks ago

India’s deadly heat kills over 200 people, including dozens of poll workers as elections wrap up

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Over 200 people, including dozens of workers on election duty, have died in the last …

A scorching heat wave kills 14 in India ahead of a final round of election voting on Saturday
6 months, 3 weeks ago

A scorching heat wave kills 14 in India ahead of a final round of election voting on Saturday

Associated Press  

PATNA, India — A blistering heat wave has killed at least 14 people, including 10 election officials, in eastern India with temperatures soaring up to 49.9 degrees Celsius in parts of the country this week, officials said Friday. The heat wave came as hundreds of millions of Indians have been voting in a 6-week long general election, increasing health risks …

At least 18 dead as scorching 50C heatwave batters India
6 months, 3 weeks ago

At least 18 dead as scorching 50C heatwave batters India

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy At least 18 people have died from heatstroke as India continues to reel from the …

Sunstroke Kills 54 As India Reels From Heatwave, Rajasthan Court Urges Centre To Declare Emergency
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Sunstroke Kills 54 As India Reels From Heatwave, Rajasthan Court Urges Centre To Declare Emergency

News 18  

At least 54 people have lost their lives so far due to the continued heatwave conditions in several parts of the country, especially the northern region. Based on this, in most of these states, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand in all these states we have given an Orange alert for heat waves has …

India may have recorded its hottest temperatures ever as Delhi faces extreme heatwave
6 months, 3 weeks ago

India may have recorded its hottest temperatures ever as Delhi faces extreme heatwave

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Heatwaves are clearly the single largest threat to India’s well being today.” Aarti Khosla, director of Climate Trends These …

Scorching heat wave kills 14 in India ahead of a final round of election voting Saturday
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Scorching heat wave kills 14 in India ahead of a final round of election voting Saturday

LA Times  

A girl covers her head to shield herself from the sun as she walks to collect water from a municipal pipe outside Jammu, India, on Friday. A blistering heat wave has killed at least 14 people, including 10 election officials, in eastern India with temperatures soaring up to 122 degrees in parts of the country this week, officials said Friday. …

Getting ready for heatwaves
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Getting ready for heatwaves

Hindustan Times  

A crushing heatwave that began more than a week ago has become unbearable since Monday. In Delhi, power consumption surpassed records and desperate families mobbed water tankers after their taps ran dry. A 40-year-old labourer who lived in a room with no air cooling died at a hospital during the week and the administration imposed fines on wasteful use of …

Need to hasten climate action as temps break records
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Need to hasten climate action as temps break records

New Indian Express  

The unprecedented rise in temperatures across north India—especially in Delhi, which recorded a historical high of 52.9°C on Wednesday—has given a glimpse into the dire future caused by human-induced climate change. The increased emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide produced by human activities are creating the effect of trapping heat and raising temperatures on …

Six more deaths reported in Rajasthan amidst severe heatwave
7 months ago

Six more deaths reported in Rajasthan amidst severe heatwave

India TV News  

Rajasthan continues to reel under a severe heatwave conditions, with temperatures reaching alarming levels and resulting in tragic fatalities. On Friday, six more deaths due to suspected heat stroke were reported across the state, adding to the five fatalities recorded just a day earlier. This extreme heatwave has engulfed various parts of Rajasthan, with cities like Jaisalmer, Barmer, and Jodhpur …

Climate change impacts millions in India. But as the country votes, some politicians skirt the issue
7 months ago

Climate change impacts millions in India. But as the country votes, some politicians skirt the issue

Associated Press  

BEED, India — Almost 970 million Indians are voting in general elections amid sweltering heat and unpredictable weather extremes exacerbated by human-caused climate change, leading to loss of livelihood, forced migration and increasingly difficult living conditions for millions across the country. Issues related to religion, caste and employment still determine most Indians’ political preferences, but Koll said that at local …

Parts of northern India scorched by extreme heat with New Delhi on high alert
7 months ago

Parts of northern India scorched by extreme heat with New Delhi on high alert

Associated Press  

NEW DELHI — Parts of northwest India sweltered under scorching temperatures on Saturday, with the capital New Delhi under a severe weather alert as extreme temperatures strike parts of the country. India’s weather department expects heat wave conditions to persist across the north for the next few days, and has put several states on high alert. The extreme temperatures in …

Climate change to intensify heatwave in India: Scientists
7 months ago

Climate change to intensify heatwave in India: Scientists

Hindustan Times  

The intense heat likely to hit India over the next few days will be exacerbated by climate change, according to a research group. A man takes shelter under an umbrella from the scorching sun on a hot summer afternoon in New Delhi The northwestern region of the country, including the capital Delhi, is expected to record temperatures that could exceed …

Is Climate Change Messing With India's Elections? New Report Sheds Some Light
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Is Climate Change Messing With India's Elections? New Report Sheds Some Light

The Quint  

The report highlighted that the last decade has seen some of the warmest years on the planet. In 2014, the global average temperatures were closing in on 1°C, while in 2019, the temperature had already reached 1.2°C. In 2023, the global temperatures were at 1.4°C, at a 144-year-high record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National …

RBI guideline on climate risk disclosure – a pragmatic step for India
7 months, 3 weeks ago

RBI guideline on climate risk disclosure – a pragmatic step for India

Hindustan Times  

The RBI’s guidelines will put into place the importance of early climate impact systems to protect communities and companies small and large. This announcement was made a week before United States’ Securities and Exchange Commission voting to approve new climate risk disclosure rules, while narrowing mitigation disclosures and adding adaptation pertaining to capitalised costs, expenditures expensed, charges, and losses incurred …

Heat of the moment
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Heat of the moment

The Hindu  

We end April by circling back to a conundrum we raised at the start of this month. Unregulated OTC drugs may spell graver health consequences – including drug abuse, increased risk of adverse drug reactions, delayed access to healthcare and possible compromise in storage of medicines. New evidence from the World Health Organisation shows the same antibiotics that were sold …

What impact will the unrelenting heat have on India’s future health? | In Focus podcast
7 months, 3 weeks ago

What impact will the unrelenting heat have on India’s future health? | In Focus podcast

The Hindu  

This March was the hottest on record globally, the 10th month in a row to hit this peak. This doesn’t feel surprising – most parts of India have been sweltering since last month, the India Meteorological Department or IMD hadd forecast heatwave conditions in parts of at least 10 States last week and it‘s only going to get worse in …

Severe heatwave alert for four states in next few days, says Weather Department
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Severe heatwave alert for four states in next few days, says Weather Department

India Today  

The India Meteorological Department on Friday issued a heatwave warning for various regions across the country. In its weather bulletin, the IMD said that areas in East and South peninsular India would likely experience a continuation of heatwave to severe heatwave conditions for the next five days. The IMD said that the regions which would experience severe heatwave conditions include …

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