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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.
India Today
7 days ago
- Climate
- India Today
Shift in rain patterns, weather big concern as climate change hits India
India is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to projected climate change impacts, with heat stress emerging as the single largest concern. The prospect of extreme heat and heat stress arises from the widespread, rapid changes in ocean temperatures combined with steadily rising atmospheric heat India Heat Summit 2025 is deliberating on the issue of rising temperatures and shared solutions. The summit will also advise the government on long-term measures to deal with its deliberation is also focusing on issues related to unseasonal rainfall and the very frequent heavy rainfall occurring in the western parts of India, including the record-breaking rains in Mumbai on Monday—breaching a hundred-year record. Environmentalists are concerned about such frequent incidents of high-intensity rain occurring in a short Swaminathan, environmentalist and Chairperson of MSSRF, told India Today that Urban flooding is rising due to multiple factors—partly climate change, and partly poor planning. While total rainfall hasn't changed much over the decade, it's now falling in fewer hours, making it harder for cities to cope. "Yes, climate change has intensified rainfall — but it's also a planning failure. We need to rethink urban design. We can't keep building the same way in Delhi, the Himalayas, and coastal areas. That approach must change," she Chitale, environmentalist at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, points out that erratic rainfall and early monsoons aren't entirely new phenomena—they've been observed over many years. However, what has changed is the intensity and concentration of rainfall in short show that regions like Rajasthan, Gujarat, central Maharashtra, and Karnataka have seen rainfall increase by up to 30% over the last decade compared to the previous 30-year average. This rise isn't spread evenly across the season; instead, it is marked by short, intense downpours, such as those seen recently in Mumbai—an outcome of increasingly erratic monsoon stresses the need for proactive prevention through robust early warning systems. He highlights India's ongoing efforts, such as the Monsoon Mission weather forecast model, as important steps forward. But he adds that what's crucial now is scaling these systems across urban India with detailed observation networks to provide timely alerts and minimize damage from such extreme agree that these extreme weather patterns are a direct result of climate change, but also point to significant governance gaps. Aarti Khosla from Climate Trends noted that warming oceans are carrying more moisture, leading to more intense and erratic rainfall. She emphasised that cities are ill-prepared for such events, lacking resilient infrastructure for transport, public health, and emergency response. According to her, the early onset of the southwest monsoon, as seen in Mumbai, is a warning sign—and India must urgently integrate weather data with urban planning to protect vulnerable to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN's climate science body, India is projected to be one of the most vulnerable regions to escalating heatwaves, humid heat stress, and other extreme weather events in a 1.5C warmer world—threats that could bring irreversible over 90% of its workforce employed in the informal sector, in the world's most densely populated country, India faces heightened exposure to both the physical dangers and economic risks of rising heat recent years, the country has experienced record-breaking temperatures year after year, with early summer arriving as soon as February or March. Heatwaves have become more frequent, prolonged, and many areas, temperatures have soared close to 50C in recent years—leading to increased illness and loss of life, especially among vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and outdoor spans five distinct climatic zones—tropical, arid, semi-arid, temperate, and alpine—all of which are now experiencing severe disruptions due to rising the north, accelerated glacial melt and glacial lake formation are intensifying flood risks. Forest fires and water scarcity are putting pressure on hill ecosystems in states like arid and semi-arid regions are seeing erratic rainfall patterns, upending agricultural cycles. Traditional climate zones are flipping: flood-prone areas now face droughts, and vice India's 7,500-km coastline, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea are witnessing increased cyclogenesis—leading to stronger, more frequent storms, saltwater intrusion, humid heatwaves, affected fisheries, and rising sea level studies show a clear spatial-temporal shift in heatwave occurrences across India, with rising trends in three major regions: north-western, central, and south-central to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the most affected states and union territories include Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and economic and social toll of these extreme conditions is enormous. The Reserve Bank of India estimates that extreme heat and humidity could lead to a 4.5% loss in GDP by 2030 due to reduced labour in monsoon patterns and rising temperatures could further reduce GDP by 2.8% by 2030, potentially lowering living standards for nearly half the population by effective mitigation policies, India could face annual GDP losses of 3-10% by climate-induced extremes intensify, it's critical to assess temperature-related risks across key sectors like energy, industry, agriculture, and urban May 2024, India's power consumption surged by 15%, reaching a record peak demand of 250.07 GW, driven by extreme heat and surpassing all previous temperatures have increased the demand for residential cooling, industrial operations, and irrigation, making India more reliant on thermal power to meet its growing energy project a 9-10% increase in energy demand in 2025, driven in part by a sharp rise in air conditioner sales—highlighting both the rising energy demand and the growing disparity in generation to transmission to distribution, high temperatures strain energy systems. Experts note that as a conductor heats up, its molecules vibrate more, increasing resistance and reducing became evident in 2022, when India experienced its worst electricity shortage in over six years, leading to power cuts in homes and industries. For the manufacturing sector, such supply disruptions can severely impact production timelines and raise impact of heat stress extends far beyond the power grid. According to the World Bank, over 34 million jobs in India could be at risk due to heat exposure. Between 2001 and 2020, India lost around 259 billion hours of labour—worth US$ 624 billion (INR 46 lakh crore) annually—due to extreme heat and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)—the backbone of the economy—are especially vulnerable to productivity declines, infrastructure damage, supply chain disruptions, and job 2022, heatwaves forced India to ban wheat exports after extreme temperatures slashed yields—highlighting the vulnerability of both the agriculture sector and global food supply scientists say heat stress has reduced rice yields by 15–20% across different to NDMA, broader impacts of heat stress on agriculture include declining soil moisture, water insecurity, increasing pest varieties, crop wilting, reduced food quality and nutrition, lower milk production, and impacts on animal growing threat of heat stress calls for urgent mid- and long-term strategies—both structural and non-structural—to limit economic and social fallout. Heat Action Plans remain India's main policy tool but require stronger coordination, greater investment, and cross-sector build resilience, India will need investment in cooling infrastructure, better urban design, early warning systems, and adaptive social protection. The real challenge lies in not just recognising heat as an economic threat, but also in mobilising targeted finance to tackle it and protect challenge is unique: it must build heat resilience while sustaining economic growth to create jobs and lift millions out of poverty. This calls for coordinated solutions from national, state, and local governments, industries, and Heat Conference being organised by Climate Trends aims to bring together these stakeholders to address what may be India's single greatest climate Watch
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. "
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Watch: Technology, Science, and Policy: can they together save a warming planet?
The Hindu's deputy science editor Jacob Koshy discusses climate change with IISc professor Sambuddha Misra, Arunabha Ghosh, Founder-CEO, Council on Energy, Environment and Water, Suruchi Bhadwal, Director, Climate Change and Air Quality, TERI. 'Climate change and economics have to be tied into one discussion,' said Dr. Ghosh. While what India commits to absolute reduction of greenhouse gases in the future is a matter of speculation, Dr. Ghosh said that we should counter climate change because three-quarters of the country's districts are hotspots for climate change, and 80% of Indians are already living in areas that are highly vulnerable hydro-meteorological disasters. While discussing about geoengineering techniques, geoengineering can have side-effects, which is why long-term pilot-scale studies are important, the Mr. Misra said. Read more: Role of multilateral regime remains relevant in fight against climate change: experts
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.
