Worsening Climate Change Driving India's Extreme Heatwave, UN Climate Chief Warns

The extreme heat scorching large parts of India is not a weather event — it is a climate crisis made worse by the burning of coal, oil, and gas, UN climate chief Simon Stiell warned on Wednesday. And the evidence is getting harder to ignore with every passing summer.

Temperatures across northern and central India have soared to dangerous levels, with several cities recording highs above 45 degrees Celsius. Heatwaves have become a recurring nightmare for millions of Indians, particularly the poor, the elderly, and outdoor workers who have no escape from the blistering sun.

"The ongoing extreme heat across large parts of India is primarily driven by worsening climate change caused by the massive burning of coal, oil, and gas," Stiell said. "This is not an anomaly. This is the new normal, and it will get worse unless we act."

India is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, despite having relatively low per-capita emissions compared to developed nations. The paradox is painful: the country is being asked to transition away from fossil fuels even as it lifts millions out of poverty — a transition that requires energy.

But the cost of inaction is also rising. Heatwaves reduce labour productivity, strain healthcare systems, damage crops, and claim lives. The 2024 heatwave season was one of the deadliest on record, and 2026 is shaping up to be worse.

The UN's message to India is clear: adaptation and mitigation are not choices — they are survival imperatives.

This is Dr. Raj Patel for Global1 News, reporting from Mumbai. 🇮🇳