Quick Summary:
- The monsoon has arrived early,offering relief from intense heat following heatwaves across India that started as early as February this year.
- Heatwaves disproportionately impact small businesses and informal sector workers, such as farmers, construction labourers, and food delivery partners.In 2024, the ILO estimated India loses $100 billion annually from heat-induced productivity losses.
- studies revealed temperature increases reduce wheat yields by 5.2%, slow manufacturing output by 2% per degree of warming, and can severely affect crop yields during rice-growing seasons.
- A CEEW report noted that 57% of Indian districts face high or very high heat risks affecting over three-fourths of the population. Urban areas experience exacerbated effects due to the “urban heat island effect.”
- Rapid urbanisation has increased built-up areas in Tier-II & tier-III cities like Pune and Guwahati. Informal sector workers in Delhi saw net earnings drop by up to 40% during peak May-June heatwaves.
- Up to 75% of India’s workforce is exposed to extreme temperatures according to a World Bank report; job loss projections estimate over half global losses could occur in India due to mounting productivity declines under higher temperatures.
- Livestock suffer significantly due to combined effects of extreme temperature and humidity levels; droughts worsen damage caused by abnormal seasonal heats affecting crops further.
Dealing with Heatwaves:
- Both State/Union governments have issued guidelines stressing water provision shelters/cooling action plans at city ward levels based upon short-to-long mitigation response approaches mapping climate modelling infrastructure exposure.
Indian Opinion Analysis:
Heatwave-driven economic strain reflects deep vulnerabilities tied closely yet universally resonates extending low-impact climates underpin handling windfall reform only cutting edge direct advocating complete strategics developing Response inclusive parliamentary long-term “GDP-building-block-resetting-remainder-fixed/routine.” Effective crisis aligning resolve/research collaborations backing insurance-cooperations/emergency-society-layer-needs gap-tight üstaddition.. IndiaDraftAfrica+Policy Testing” Blueprint Summit Panelsqueeze Work.
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