Welcome to the 'Heat Islands'
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The Economics of Heat: The world’s 100 hottest cities are located in India, and it is not getting any better. Is staying indoor the option available to everyone? No. It is the poor worker, out in the extreme heat, who suffer the most.
By Dr Shiwani Pandey
The light rain that fell in Delhi some time back provided a day or two of relief from the scorching heat, but this respite was nothing more than a fleeting, pleasant sensation. The reality is that continuously rising temperatures and recurring heatwaves have become the harshest truth of our times. This blistering heat has not only thrown public life into disarray, but has also exposed a deep social and economic divide.
In the era we inhabit today, the impact of the heat is not felt equally by everyone. A large segment of society—those who are economically vulnerable and dependent on daily-wage labour—is paying the heaviest price for this scorching heat. The irony lies in the fact that while these individuals have contributed the least to exacerbating climate change, they are the very ones bearing the brunt of its earliest and most lethal blows.
Amidst this severe heat, data from AQI.in—a website that monitors temperature levels—reveals that 90 to 95 of the world’s 100 hottest cities are located in India, thereby intensifying concerns regarding the impact of rising temperatures. In several regions, temperature has already soared to between 42 and 45 degrees Celsius, even before the peak of the summer season. This extreme heat gripped numerous cities across North, Central, and Western India in a severe heatwave. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts for parts of North-Western and Central India, warning that severe heatwave conditions are likely to persist for the next few days.
The IMD has urged residents of these extremely hot regions to remain indoors as much as possible and to take necessary precautions to protect themselves from heat-related illnesses. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can lead to serious health complications, including heatstroke.
Mohammad Salim, a rickshaw puller who has been plying his trade near Delhi University for the past 15 years, continues to wait in the blazing sun for his passengers amidst this relentless heat. As the saying goes, “One finds fewer passengers during the summer, yet we are compelled to stand here waiting for them. If we do not do this work, we won’t even be able to afford even one meal a day. Life here has become difficult following the conflict between the US and Iran, and now the summer heat has diminished our work opportunities. However, we have no other alternative.”
There are hundreds of thousands—perhaps even millions—of people like Salim who are forced to work in such terrible conditions. Unlike those who have the luxury of staying indoors—as advised by the IMD—these individuals simply do not have that option.
Meanwhile, electricity demand across the country has soared to record-breaking levels. According to data from Grid Controller of India Limited—India’s national grid operator—the peak electricity demand on Friday (April 24) surged to 252 gigawatts (GW), surpassing the previous high of 251 GW recorded in May 2024. On Saturday (April 25), this demand rose once again, reaching an all-time high of 256 GW. This figure significantly exceeds the 239.5 GW projected by Grid India in its weekly forecast for April 20–26. Such a level of electricity demand is unusually high for this time of year; typically, India’s energy requirements would reach this magnitude during June or July, when the summer heat is at its absolute peak across parts of North India.
This surge in electricity demand serves as a clear indication that the use of cooling appliances has increased exponentially. This spike is driven by the excessive use of air-conditioning and cooling devices in homes and offices—a trend that is exacerbating the impact of rising urban temperatures.
The grimmest face of the impact of climate change is witnessed in impoverished urban areas. In sprawling cities like Delhi—often referred to as “Urban Heat Islands”—temperature is recorded at levels 5 to 7 degrees higher than the norm. This concrete jungle—where towering buildings and an intricate network of roads exacerbate the heat—acts like a furnace for poor settlements.
Construction workers, rickshaw pullers, and street vendors—who toil on the streets all day—possess neither adequate shelter nor amenities such as air-conditioning. A recent study highlights that low-income individuals, who rely on walking or public transportation rather than private vehicles, are compelled to endure extreme heat during their daily commute to work. According to a World Bank report, the number of urban poor exposed to hazardous heat could surge by up to 700% by the year 2050, with the heaviest burden falling upon developing regions such as Asia.
Extreme heat ceases to be merely a matter of sweat and fatigue; it transforms into a question of life and death. Economically vulnerable populations not only reside in substandard housing but also face a severe scarcity of clean drinking water—factors that heighten the risks of dehydration and heatstroke.
Excessive heat poses significant health risks, particularly for those lacking adequate shelter, cooling systems, and sufficient access to healthcare services. The poor often inhabit overcrowded and poorly ventilated homes, making it exceedingly difficult to find respite from the intense heat. This gives rise to a host of health complications.
Reports of heat-related fatalities have already started to emerge. Prolonged exposure to high temperature leads to heatstroke—a condition that, if not treated immediately, can prove fatal.
According to research conducted at Monash University, more than 153,000 deaths occur worldwide every year due to excessive heat. Based on a study analysing data spanning 30 years since 1990, over 153,000 deaths globally are attributed to heatwaves annually. India accounts for one-fifth—the largest share—of these fatalities. Following India, China and Russia rank next, recording approximately 14 per cent and 8 per cent, of these excess deaths linked to heatwaves.
According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), impoverished farmers lose approximately five per cent of their annual income due to extreme heat, as they possess limited alternative sources of livelihood. When stepping out to earn a living becomes a necessity for survival, the lack of access to healthcare services and medical treatment further exacerbates this crisis. Amidst this financial instability, they are compelled to spend a significant portion of their meagre income on basic necessities such as healthcare and water, thereby intensifying the vicious cycle of poverty.
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Kiran Devi, a domestic worker in Dehradun, says, “Until a few years ago, a fan was sufficient to get us through the summer; however, with the heat intensifying every year, living conditions have become unbearable for us. Due to the rising temperature, power outages lasting an hour or two during the day have become a common occurrence; moreover, these power cuts do not happen just once, but occur multiple times throughout the day during the summer season. We might have been able to endure these hardships ourselves, but the children and the elderly are unable to withstand such heat. My husband works as a daily-wage labourer; during the summer, work opportunities become scarce, making it extremely difficult for us to even cover our basic household expenses. However, the constant power cuts have forced us to purchase inverters and air coolers, which has increased our financial burden. We were compelled to buy these appliances, despite our reluctance to do so. Perhaps, had there not been such frequent power outages, we would not have had to bear the financial burden of purchasing an inverter.”
Mehar, a domestic worker in Delhi, faces a similar plight. “During summer, water becomes our biggest challenge,” says Mehar. “A fan simply isn’t enough; we are compelled to spend money on an air cooler. As the heat intensifies, the prices of coolers skyrocket; yet, what other choice do we have?Top of Form
Scientists attribute this escalation in extreme heat to climate change. This climatic shift has not only intensified the heat, but has also altered the timing of the monsoon. India’s agriculture mostly relies on the monsoon; however, due to its altered schedule and the broader impact of climate change—manifesting as alternating spells of drought and excessive rainfall leading to floods—the agricultural sector is now facing severe disruption. This, in turn, is adversely affecting millions of families dependent on farming and agriculture for their livelihood.
Policy Interventions and the Way Forward
There is an urgent need for a multi-faceted approach to address the adverse impact of heatwaves on impoverished communities in India. According to a World Bank report, adapting India’s cities to climate change will require an investment of over $2.4 trillion by the year 2050. We must work on both immediate relief measures and long-term strategies to mitigate the effects of extreme heat. This includes increasing green cover within cities, constructing “cool roofs,” and conserving water bodies.
At a time when India is home to some of the world’s hottest cities, the government has granted approval for the felling of forests to facilitate development projects across various parts of the country. In states such as Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Northeast India, millions of trees are being cut down, and local populations are being displaced—often under duress—by being subjected to various forms of intimidation.
Those who raise their voices in protest are being silenced through legal action and the filing of lawsuits. Environmentalists worldwide, advocate for forest conservation as a long-term strategy to cope with rapidly shifting weather patterns. Yet, globally, these very forests are being rapidly cleared in the name of development. While governments and the public tend to focus on immediate, short-term measures, this global crisis cannot be effectively resolved without the implementation of long-term strategies.
Unpredictable weather shifts also entail far-reaching social and environmental consequences, disproportionately affecting different communities. Heatwaves frequently trigger drought-like conditions, resulting in acute water scarcity.
Impoverished communities—who already face limited access to clean water—consequently confront severe challenges in securing adequate water for drinking, cooking, and sanitation purposes. Extreme heat compels people to migrate from rural to urban areas in search of better living conditions and employment opportunities. This migration often leads to urban slums, where living conditions are already dire.
At the governmental level, social security policies and employment guarantee schemes must be introduced to provide financial security to workers during periods of extreme heat. Expanding the scope of disaster management to include heatwaves as a primary hazard—along with providing subsidized cooling solutions to impoverished families—is imperative for future preparedness. Building an equitable and sustainable future necessitates the adoption of the principles of climate justice.
Unless we invest equitably in infrastructure, healthcare, and environmental protection, this scorching heat will continue to erode not only our environment but also the social and economic foundations of our society. The escalating challenge is no longer merely a meteorological phenomenon; it now stands as the ultimate test of our development and policymaking capabilities.
Dr Shiwani Pandey is a Postdoctoral Fellow, Delhi School of Transnational Affairs, Institution of Eminence (IOE), University of Delhi.,
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