Climate Change Linked Heat Hits 117 Million Indians As Global Risky Heat Exposure Crosses 1.5 Billion

Global heatwaves affected over 1.5 billion people across the world between June and August 2026, with Asia being the most impacted region, according to an analysis by Climate Central. India alone saw 117 million people endure at least 30 days of risky heat, surpassing other Asian nations like China with 94 million and Indonesia with 83 million. Across Asia, 2.8 billion people, or 58% of the continent's population, faced dangerous heat conditions during the three-month period.

Risky heat is defined as temperatures exceeding 90% of historically observed levels in a specific location during the 1991-2020 period. This threshold was chosen because health risks escalate as temperatures surpass local historical ranges. The analysis revealed that a quarter of the global population experienced climate change-influenced temperatures on any given day during this period.

Additionally, in 203 countries, individuals encountered an average of at least 30 days of temperatures with strong climate change influence.

India's situation is particularly concerning, as the country has experienced repeated extreme heat episodes and growing worries about the health consequences of extended high temperatures. A 2026 district-level study projected that a five-day heatwave could result in approximately 30,000 excess deaths nationwide, with Uttar Pradesh alone responsible for an estimated 8,056 of these deaths. However, these estimates should not be considered as the actual 2026 heat-related mortality count.

The India Meteorological Department had predicted above-normal heatwave days for various parts of Uttar Pradesh and other states during June. In a specific instance in June, Prayagraj recorded a temperature of 45°C, while heatwave conditions were reported in East Uttar Pradesh. The European region experienced the most unusual heat during this period, with nearly nine out of ten Europeans enduring at least a month of risky heat.

France and the Holy See registered temperature anomalies of around 3.5°C above their historical norms. Climate Central posits that the prolonged heat contributed to record-breaking wildfires, drought, and increased pressure on emergency and health services.