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Climate Change Fuels Unprecedented Heatwave Exposure Worldwide
29 Oct
Summary
- In 2024, people in India experienced 19.8 heatwave days on average, with 6.6 days directly linked to climate change.
- Globally, the average person was exposed to a record 16 extra health-threatening hot days due to climate change.
- Heat exposure resulted in a loss of 247 billion potential labor hours per year, a 124% increase from 1990-1999.
According to a new report from The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, the year 2024 was the hottest on record, with catastrophic consequences for people's health, lives, and livelihoods across the globe. Globally, the average person was exposed to a record 16 extra health-threatening hot days directly due to climate change, with the most vulnerable populations experiencing an all-time high of 20 heatwave days.
In India, residents were exposed to an average of 19.8 heatwave days in 2024, with 6.6 of those days directly linked to climate change. Compared to the 1990s, people in 2024 faced 366 more hours of ambient heat that would pose a moderate or higher risk of heat stress during moderate outdoor activity. This record-breaking heat exposure resulted in a staggering loss of 247 billion potential labor hours per year, a 124% increase from 1990-1999.
Experts warn that the devastating health impacts will continue to escalate until the world ends its reliance on fossil fuels and significantly improves climate adaptation efforts. They call for strengthening early warning systems, making health infrastructure climate-resilient, and ensuring access to clean water and sanitation to protect vulnerable populations.
