Climate Change and Health Impact in India

Syllabus: Prelims Unit I - General Science

Current Health Statistics (2024)

• Extreme Heat: 733 deaths recorded until May 2024, with 360 people affected by heat stroke and 640,000 individuals suffering from heat-related illnesses across 17 states.
• Extreme Cold: 730 deaths reported in the past two years.

Major Health Impacts

Respiratory Issues

• Predicted global increase of 300 million asthma patients.
• Aggravation of air pollution due to rising temperatures.

Cardiovascular Problems

• Altered blood circulation and muscle tissue function.
• Elevated risk of heart blockages and higher incidents of blood pressure.

Neurological Impacts

• Increase in brain-related disorders.
• Rise in Japanese encephalitis cases.
• Growth in nerve-related diseases.

Research Findings

• Lancet Study (1968–2023):
• Analyzed 332 diseases, linking climate change with anxiety, fatigue, and stress.
• Georgetown University Research:
• 4 million deaths attributed to climate extremes, surpassing deaths from malnutrition.

Future Projections

• 250,000 additional deaths annually between 2030 and 2050.
• 60% rise in premature births worldwide.
• 15 million premature births annually projected.

Air Pollution Impact

• 7 million deaths globally each year due to air pollution.
• 489,000 heat-related illnesses recorded between 2010 and 2019.
• 1.08 billion people affected by skin diseases.
• 6–17.2% of Indians suffer from heat-induced skin conditions.