India is facing growing health and economic consequences of climate change, with rising temperatures, infectious diseases and air pollution emerging as major concerns, according to the 2026 Lancet Countdown report. The findings reveal that 50% of India’s heatwave days between 2016 and 2025 were attributable to climate change.
The report estimates that extreme heat resulted in an average annual loss of 193 billion potential labour hours in India during the decade, marking a 75% increase compared with the 1990s. Rising temperatures also affected sleep, with people losing an estimated 64 hours annually due to hot nights during 2021–2025.
The study, involving 146 researchers from over 100 institutions across more than 30 countries, tracks 54 indicators of climate change and its impact on health.
Beyond heat exposure, changing climatic conditions are increasing the suitability for mosquito-borne diseases. Dengue transmission potential linked to Aedes albopictus mosquitoes rose 84%, while environmentally suitable months for malaria transmission increased by nearly 19% for Plasmodium falciparum.
Air pollution remains another major health threat. PM2.5 exposure was associated with over 2.2 million deaths in India in 2023, a 22% rise from 2016. Wildfire smoke was linked to approximately 90,300 deaths annually during 2021–2025.
Experts have called for stronger heat-health preparedness, including early warning systems, better hospital readiness and targeted protection for vulnerable communities.
Prof T. P. Sabin of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology stressed the importance of impact-based heat warnings and coordination between meteorological agencies, healthcare authorities and urban planners.
The report calls for urgent action combining emission reductions, cleaner energy and stronger public health systems to limit the growing health burden of climate change.
