Over the past five years, pregnant women faced an average of six additional days per year of dangerously high temperatures.

India Faces Heat Crisis: 160 Billion Labor Hours Lost, Health Risks Surge, Report Shows

India experienced significant economic and health impacts due to rising temperatures in 2021, according to a new report. The study estimates that extreme heat caused a loss of approximately 160 billion labor hours, equal to 5.4 percent of the country’s GDP.

The report, ‘Under the Weather: India’s Climate-Health Intersections and Pathways to Resilience’, was released by ClimateRISE Alliance in partnership with strategic philanthropy organization Dasra. It highlights how climate change affects vulnerable populations, including women, children, informal workers, rural communities, and those with limited access to healthcare.

Heat waves are linked to increased health risks, with the study noting that cardiovascular deaths rise by 11.7 percent during extreme temperature events. This is a concern in India, where heart disease accounts for roughly 28 to 30 percent of all deaths.

Maternal and infant health are also affected. Over the past five years, pregnant women faced an average of six additional days per year of dangerously high temperatures. The report associates this exposure with a 16 percent increase in preterm births, as well as higher risks of stillbirths and neonatal hospitalizations.

According to the findings, climate change intensifies existing threats rather than creating entirely new ones, placing already vulnerable groups at higher risk. The report includes data on labor, health, and maternal outcomes across India.