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The Hindu
15 hours ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
How do heatwaves impact India's labour productivity?
The monsoon has arrived more than a week in advance, giving a respite from the intense heat in India. A heatwave gripped India in early April, though heatwave conditions were observed as early as February 27–28 as large parts of the country witnessed temperatures soar. Heatwaves could have a drastic impact on the economy. In a report in 2024, the International Labour Organization (ILO) warned that more than 70% of all workers worldwide are at risk of exposure to excessive heat. It added that India lost an estimated $100 billion from heat-induced productivity losses. Small businesses and informal workers like construction workers, farmers, street vendors and food delivery partners bore the brunt. Excessive heat can have a devastating impact on agriculture. Studies show that just 1 degree of warming reduces wheat yields by about 5.2% in India. Heatwaves, late in the rice growing season, can reduce yield. Indians at risk Heatwaves, a period of unusually high temperatures compared to normal, occur mainly from March to June and hit a peak in May. Most States are prone to heat waves in varying degrees with Central, Northwest, East & north Peninsular India bearing the brunt. A recent report by CEEW states that about 57% of Indian districts, which account for 76% of the country's population, face a high to very high heat risk. Delhi, Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh face the highest heat risk. It notes that over the last 40 years (1981–2022), heat extremes in India have increased linearly. This led to landmark heatwaves in 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2024. 'Nearly 23 States are heatwave-prone in India. There has been a linear increase in the number of very hot days and the number of very warm nights,' said D.r Vishwas Chitale, Senior Programme Lead, CEEW, who noted that the rate of increase in warm nights exceeds that of hot days. Rapid urbanisation has only exacerbated the issue as cities tend to retain heat during the day, which delays cooling after sunset, making nights warmer. This contributes to the 'urban heat island effect', where cities get hotter than neighbouring rural areas. The CEEW report noted that between 2005 and 2023, built-up areas have expanded rapidly in almost every Indian district, especially in Tier-II and Tier-III cities like Pune, Thoothukudi, Kolhapur, and Guwahati. 'You're not getting any relief from the daytime hot temperature even when you sleep at night. If there are no cooling mechanisms available to you, then your productivity is going to go down,' he said. A 2022 World Bank report points out that up to 75% of India's workforce, or 380 million people, depend on heat-exposed labour, potentially working in life-threatening temperatures. It also noted that 34 million of the projected 80 million global job losses from heat stress-related productivity decline would be in India. 'The income losses for workers in the informal sector are likely to be greater as they are more likely to work outdoors and have less protection from heat,' Dr. Somanathan, Professor, Economics and Planning Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, said. 'Net earnings of informal sector workers in Delhi were 40% lower during heatwaves compared to other days in May and June. They were also less likely to be able to go to work due to heat, slept less and less well, and were more likely to have a family member who was sick on hotter days,' he said. Blue-collar workers in factories also suffer. Dr. Somanathan's 2021 study revealed a slowdown in productivity and increased absenteeism during hot days. 'A 1 degree of warming is estimated to reduce manufacturing output by about 2%,' he said, adding that the losses will increase as the severity of heat waves increases due to global warming. Ironically, the solution lies in ensuring that productivity increases. 'Increasing productivity is the best thing that can be done to protect workers because employers are more likely to invest in cooling for more productive than less productive workers,' he said. In rural India, heatwaves hit differently. 'Typically, there is little agricultural activity in the peak of summer. But the summer season is also the season for a lot of non-farm activity. A large number of agricultural workers, and even farmers, go to work part-time in sectors like construction or road building, especially in the lean season,' Dr. T. Jayaram, Senior Fellow, Climate Change, MSSRF, said. 'Construction activity heats up, and road building also attracts labourers, and they are prone to the direct risks,' he added. He noted that livestock are vulnerable to heat waves. 'A combination of factors, including temperature and humidity, are at play, and if it crosses a threshold, livestock will suffer. There are guidelines for this, but enforcement is an issue as most of the small and medium farmers are spread across the country,' he said. Heatwaves cause more damage when combined with other factors like an ongoing drought or food shortage. 'Abnormally high temperatures in other parts of the year, like in early March or late October, can have an impact on crops and productivity in the field,' he noted. Dealing with heatwaves Governments, both at the Central and State levels, is taking action. For example, the National Disaster Management Authority, in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, published guidelines for protecting the Indian workforce. These guidelines, which stress on providing education and regulating work schedules, providing water, medical facilities and appropriate workwear, can be used by officials preparing heatwave action plans for the cities and towns. Several States and cities have their own heat action plans, with some cities making plans down to the ward-level to implement solutions on the ground. 'Heat action plans change from city to city. There are these matrices, which have been defined by NDMA, which include short-term responses like making water available at public places, providing shelters like a cool bus stop. Then, there are also long-term mitigation measures, which might include activities like urban greening or increasing the water bodies within the city. In Chennai, for example, authorities mapped out urban heat islands within the city and have incorporated that data in their master plan,' Dr. Chitale said. Currently, the focus is mostly on urban areas. 'Urban areas are at a higher risk because of the population that they host. Nearly 76% of India's population lives in 57% of districts [and they are susceptible to the risks],' Dr. Chitale said. He noted that the healthcare infrastructure in rural areas is relatively weak. This puts Indians in rural areas at risk of health-related disorders. 'Given the quality of housing, and the availability of amenities such as water, sanitation, electricity etc., the impact on the [rural] population can be quite severe,' Dr. Jayaram said. While States can tap into their State Disaster Management Fund to meet immediate funding to tackle intense heat waves, the focus should be on long-term solutions. 'States should be planning strategically to make investments to protect people,' Dr. Somanathan noted. 'When it comes to cities, they need to get a heat action plan. Then, you can start building on further with solutions and interventions. Of course, cities can allocate certain funds for implementation of heat action plans,' Dr. Chitale said. Dr. Jayaram said there should be a way to compensate workers who stop work due to the heat. 'People are experimenting with insurance, for instance, in parts of the country, where workers pay a small sum towards the premium. When a heat wave is declared and work is stopped, they get compensation,' he said, but noted that implementation would be a problem.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu among top heat-risk States in country; warmer nights put people at risk
Tamil Nadu is increasingly at risk from extreme heat events, as 2024 was the hottest year on record globally and India endured its longest heatwave since 2010. According to a recent study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), Tamil Nadu ranks fifth among Indian States with high to very high heat risk, with urban centres like Chennai experiencing significant challenges from rising temperatures. In fact, none of Tamil Nadu's districts falls under the very low or low heat risk categories. About 11% districts face moderate heat risk, while 43% are classified as high risk, and 46% districts fall into the very high heat risk category, indicating that the majority of the State is confronting severe and widespread heat vulnerability. As per the study, over the past decade, heatwaves in Tamil Nadu's districts have lengthened by over three days, which has intensified impacts on public health, agriculture, and energy infrastructure. Chennai has witnessed an increase of four additional 'very warm' nights per summer, driven largely by the urban heat island effect, where cities retain heat well into the night. Warming nights a rising concern According to the CEEW study, national data from 1981 to 2022 shows that the frequency of very warm nights is increasing faster than very hot days, particularly in the last decade. Both terms refer to temperatures exceeding the 95th percentile of historical records. This trend is influenced by natural climate cycles such as El Niño and La Niña. For example, during strong El Niño years like 1997 and 2016, very hot days and very warm nights were significantly more frequent. Experts highlight that rising nighttime temperatures are especially dangerous because they prevent the body from cooling and recovering after hot days, increasing health risks for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children. In Tamil Nadu, as in Punjab, West Bengal, Kerala, and Karnataka, vulnerability to heat is further exacerbated by the high prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. These conditions increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, placing additional strain on the State's healthcare system, the study points out. The study recommends that States, districts, and cities should move beyond a narrow focus on daytime temperatures while planning for heat risk and incorporate additional dimensions of warm nights, humidity, demographic patterns, and health vulnerabilities.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Andhra Pradesh tops among all states in heat risk index: Study
Visakhapatnam: Though Andhra Pradesh did not experience a harsh summer this year, the state has been ranked first among all states in terms of the heat risk index in a recent report by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). According to the study titled 'How Extreme Heat is Impacting India: Assessing District-level Heat Risk', every district in the state falls within the risk categories, with 62% classified at high and 38% at very high risks. Kerala, Maharashtra and Goa, which have shared first place with Andhra Pradesh, also have 100% of their districts in either the high or very high risk categories. This contrasts sharply with the national average, where 57% of Indian districts, which is home to 76% of the country's total population, are currently at high to very high heat risk, according to the study. Over the last 40 years, heat extremes have increased steadily, leading to severe heatwaves in 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2024. However, in the past decade, the number of very warm nights has been rising faster than the number of extremely hot days. AP also ranks the highest among Indian states in terms of heatwave impact, with about 1,000 heatwave days recorded between 1969 and 2019, each associated with at least one fatality. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025: Steel Suppliers From Mexico At Lowest Prices (Take A Look) Steel Suppliers | search ads Search Now Undo The combined impact of high temperatures, alongside socio-economic and health vulnerabilities, results in a heightened sensitivity to extreme heat. This is particularly evident among the large outdoor working population of the state, predominantly engaged in agriculture, making them more susceptible to heat stress. The diurnal temperature range (the difference between the day time maximum and night time minimum temperature) has decreased across several districts of the state, particularly in the last decade compared to the climatic baseline (1982–2011). Nearly 70% of the districts have experienced additional five 'very warm' nights per summer (March to June). Rising night time temperatures prevent the human body from cooling down after hot days. Studies have linked a declining diurnal temperature range to increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Changes in DTR can also influence vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue, as mosquito breeding cycles are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Urban heat islands (areas that trap heat during the day and release it at night) are likely contributing to this trend in the urban parts of the state like Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Kakinada, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Guntur, Nellore, Tirupati, etc. According to experts, this will have serious health implications, particularly for the elderly, outdoor workers, children, and individuals with pre-existing conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, in both urban and rural settings. The CEEW study also highlights that even traditionally cooler Himalayan regions, where heat thresholds are lower than in the plains and coastal areas, have experienced increases in both very hot days and very warm nights. For instance, in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, the number of very hot days and very warm nights has risen by over 15 days and nights each summer. This could severely impact the fragile mountain ecosystems. Dr Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of CEEW, said, "We are entering an era of intense, prolonged heat, rising humidity, and dangerously warm nights. We must urgently overhaul city-level heat action plans to address local vulnerabilities, balance emergency response measures with long-term resilience, and secure financing for sustainable cooling solutions. Moreover, it is time to move beyond daytime temperature thresholds and act on what the data tells us—the danger doesn't end when the sun sets. "
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
No chill! Gujarat ranks among India's most heat-vulnerable states
Ahmedabad: Scorching summers aren't new to Gujarat, but 2025 has pushed all limits. A recent study confirms what residents already felt on their skin: not just summer, but even winter months saw record-breaking temperatures across the state. The report, titled 'How Extreme Heat is Impacting India', released by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), reveals that 97% of Gujarat's districts now fall under either 'very high' or 'high' heat risk index (HRI). That places Gujarat just behind Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Kerala, and Maharashtra — the only four states where 100% of districts fall in the highest risk zones. Gujarat's heat profile now surpasses Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh, according to the report. The report also highlighted that compared to very hot days, the number of very warm nights increased for the state in the past decade (2012-22) compared to the climatic baseline (1982-2011). Likewise, in parts of north Gujarat, the difference between day and night temperatures shrank in the same period. According to the study, the risk of heightened heat exposure was higher in dense, urban, and economically critical cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bhopal, and Bhubaneswar. For the study, a heat risk index (HRI) was developed and used to assess threats in 734 districts of India. The index is based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) framework, which defines 'risk as a combination of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability.' The report classifies districts into very low, low, moderate, high, and very high-risk categories on a score ranging from 1 to 5 based on risk levels. The study highlighted that extreme heat now posed a risk to 57% of Indian districts, home to 76% of the country's population. Districts in 'high risk' categories included Kutch, Aravalli, Mahisagar, Panchmahal, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, and Tapi. Only Dangs was in the moderate category. All other districts were termed as having 'very high risk'. According to the study, most districts in Gujarat experienced 3 to 6 more 'very hot days' between 2012 and 2022 compared to baseline data from 1982 to 2011. In comparison, Kutch and some parts of Saurashtra recorded 9 to 12, and the rest of the state 6 to 9 more 'very warm nights' in the same period. Compared to the Gangetic plain, Gujarat recorded a relatively low rise in relative humidity (RH), which increased by 0 to 3% in the last decade. The report mentioned Ahmedabad – one of the districts with very high heat risk – for its heat action plan (HAP) and initiatives such as parametric insurance for those affected by the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) as some of the good practices "to enhance financial resilience and ensure timely compensation for heat-induced losses, particularly focusing on the livelihood losses for outdoor workers". "Ahmedabad, which launched its HAP in 2013, reportedly avoided about 1,000 all-cause deaths annually during 2014–2015 compared to the 2007–2010 baseline," mentioned the report. Public health experts associated with HAP design said that the report should be seen in light of the awareness and mitigation measures. "There are multiple factors responsible for the rise in heat, ranging from climate change to the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Heat affects a very large population in states like Gujarat, and thus measures become crucial. Several good practices are documented in Ahmedabad, and successful ones should be replicated in other parts of the state," said the expert.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Kol, 5 Bengal dists at ‘high risk' for extreme heat: Study
1 2 Kolkata: Kolkata is among six Bengal districts flagged as "high-risk" for extreme heat in a nationwide heat risk assessment by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). The report titled 'How Extreme Heat Is Impacting India: Assessing District-level Heat Risk' presents the first composite Heat Risk Index (HRI) for all 734 districts in India. Significantly, the six Bengal districts do not have a heat action plan to help citizens adapt to the problem. While Bengal is 15th among states on the HRI, indicating a moderate overall risk, Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Purulia, East Midnapore and Bankura feature among the 417 districts in India under the high and very high risk category. Unlike in the past, heat stress is not fading in the city with sunset, says the report. Very warm nights and rising humidity are reducing the body's ability to recover from daytime heat, posing serious health risks, especially for the elderly, children, outdoor workers, and people with chronic illnesses. "Heat stress is no longer a future threat — it's a present reality," said Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of CEEW. "We are entering an era of intense, prolonged heat and dangerously warm nights. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo It's time to overhaul our heat action strategies with district-specific solutions," he added. As many as 12 Bengal districts came under the moderate risk category on the list, while northern districts like Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri have been considered low-risk. Cooch Behar and Alipurduar are the only districts in the very low-risk category. The study arrives at a time when 57% of India's districts — home to over 76% of the population — are at risk due to extreme heat. Many cities across India, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, are experiencing increased vulnerability due to urban heat islands and dense populations. To build a momentum for nationwide heat resilience, CEEW launched the report and deliberated on practical strategies for heat action planning, disaster risk reduction, and financing for sustainable cooling. "The urban heat island and shrinking green space have been exacerbating the problem," said Vishwas Chitale, who leads the climate resilience team at CEEW. The report underscores the importance of moving beyond daytime heat metrics. It calls for an urgent update of heat action plans to include measures for night-time heat and rising humidity, especially as the State Disaster Mitigation Fund now recognises heatwaves as a disaster eligible for relief funding. CEEW is also showcasing affordable and scalable heat adaptation strategies such as cool roofs, net-zero cooling shelters, emergency heat stroke rooms and parametric heat insurance. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
