A towering inferno of bad policies
India is experiencing severe heat stress, with 100 of the world's hottest cities recorded on April 24, all located in the country. The heat stress is attributed to both global warming and domestic policy failures that have dismantled natural cooling systems.
India faced extreme heat in April, with temperatures soaring to 45°C and above. On April 24, 100 of the world's hottest cities were recorded in India. The heat stress is not just a meteorological event but also a result of manmade factors, including the dismantling of natural cooling systems. Millions of construction workers and street vendors are suffering from heat exhaustion and chronic kidney disease due to lack of labour protection and cooling infrastructure. India's working hours could be reduced by 5.8% by 2030 due to heat stress, equivalent to 34 million full-time jobs. The country's agrarian economy is also reeling under thermal shock, with yield losses of nearly 15-25% in heat-sensitive pockets.
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