Heatwave frequency and intensity are increasing in India, with the current 2024 heatwave bringing temperatures of 126F (52C). Extreme heat has pushed many into “heat poverty,” a now-common term in India that describes the significant costs of making life safe and bearable during high temperatures. Impoverished citizens have been forced to purchase life-saving air conditioning units with sizable loans, which they are unsure of when or how they can pay back. With the effects of climate change increasing the heat annually, heat poverty is expected to get worse.
The John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health highlighted the experience of one woman in a west Delhi slum who had to take out a loan from her son’s employer to buy an air conditioning unit. She found this a necessary expense as her children and husband have frequently missed school and work due to heat-related illness, leading to many lost wages. Unfortunately, these loans come with high interest rates, plunging families like hers further into debt and exacerbating the issue of heat poverty.
Sweltering temperatures are projected to become more frequent in the coming years due to climate change and the growth of cities. As India develops, the increased use of heat-retaining building materials such as concrete and asphalt is worsening the “urban heat island” effect, where cities experience higher temperatures than surrounding areas due to these materials absorbing and storing heat.
In 2024 alone, there have been over 100 deaths and 40,000 cases of heat stroke in India. This death toll has underscored the ongoing need for air conditioning for many families, regardless of the price. Heat poverty is projected to increase substantially, necessitating rapid interventions to ensure an economically stable future for many Indian citizens.
By Sarah Ortega