Technology
Fossil fuel-driven air pollution claimed 1.72 million lives in India in 2022: The Lancet report
Fossil fuel-driven air pollution claimed 1.72 million lives in India in 2022, according to The Lancet Countdown 2025Report on Health and Climate Change, published on Wednesday (October 29). Coal and petrol use alone accounted for over half a million deaths, underscoring the deadly cost of delayed climate action, the report, which tracked health impacts in more than 100 countries, stated.
The economic toll is staggering — premature mortality due to outdoor air pollution cost India $339.4 billion, equivalent to 9.5% of its GDP. Household air pollution, largely from solid biofuels, caused 113 deaths per 100,000, with rural areas suffering more (125 per 100,000) than urban areas (99 per 100,000), the report said.
In 2024, the average Indian experienced 19.8 heatwave days, with 6.6 days directly attributable to climate change. The country also witnessed a record high of 366 hours of heat exposure, posing moderate to severe health risks during outdoor activity. This extreme heat led to the loss of 247 billion labour hours, costing the economy $194 billion, with the agriculture and construction sectors bearing the brunt.
The report said that India’s preparedness for a low-carbon transition declined by 2% in 2024, reflecting a worrying backslide in climate resilience.
Disease, displacement
The average transmission rate (R₀) for dengue via Aedes albopictus mosquitoes surged from 0.86 to 1.60 between 1951-1960 and 2015-2024, crossing the epidemic threshold. The coastal area suitable for Vibrio transmission rose 46% compared to the 1982-2010 baseline, the report said.
India’s vulnerability to the rise in sea level is growing, with over 18 million people living less than one metre above sea level. Meanwhile, 35% of the country’s land experienced at least one month of extreme drought annually from 2020-2024, a 138% increase since the 1950s, the report said.
Between 2020 and 2024, wildfire smoke (PM2.5) caused an average of 10,200 deaths annually in India, a 28% increase from the previous decade.
Fossil fuel dependence
India spent $48.5 billion on net fossil fuel subsidies in 2023, while its carbon revenue remained negative. Coal still accounts for 46% of total energy supply and 72% of electricity generation, while renewables contribute just 2% to energy supply and 10% to electricity.
The transport sector is similarly skewed, with 96% of road energy coming from fossil fuels, and electricity making up a mere 0.3%. Household energy use is dominated by solid biofuels (58%), contributing significantly to indoor air pollution.
Environmental degradation
India lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover between 2001 and 2023, with 143,000 hectares lost in 2023 alone, primarily due to forestry. Urban greenness is declining, with 110 of 189 major cities showing very low levels of vegetation. Only Tamluk in West Bengal was classified as having high urban greenness. From 2015 to 2024, average urban greenness declined by 3.6%.
In 2022, red meat and dairy accounted for 65% of agricultural emissions. Overall, agricultural emissions rose 13% between 2000 and 2022, highlighting the need for sustainable food system transitions.
In 2024, Indian newspapers published 296 articles on climate change and health — a 19% increase from 2023. These articles made up 15.3% of all climate coverage, indicating growing public awareness. However, scientific research remains uneven — while 208 papers (75%) focused on health impacts, only one paper (0.4%) addressed indigenous communities.
India’s challenges mirror those faced by many other nations. The report includes data from over 100 countries, with regional deep dives into Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Countries grappling with rising heat-related mortality, wildfire exposure, and climate-sensitive disease outbreaks include Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and Chile. The findings reveal a shared global vulnerability but also highlight disparities in preparedness and response.
Despite grim statistics, the report notes encouraging signs. Between 2010 and 2022, annually, 160,000 premature deaths were prevented worldwide due to the reduced use of fossil fuels.
“The health of people around the world is at the mercy of fossil fuels. We are seeing record levels of heat-related deaths, infectious disease transmission, and economic losses. The science is clear: delaying climate action is costing lives,” Marina Romanello, executive director of The Lancet Countdown, said.
“The climate crisis is a health crisis. Every fraction of a degree matters. Every policy decision matters. We need urgent, health-centred climate action from governments, corporations, and communities,” Anthony Costello, co-chair of The Lancet Countdown, said.
The Lancet Countdown is an annual, peer-reviewed global collaboration that monitors the evolving relationship between climate change and health. It assesses how climate change is affecting health outcomes, health systems, and the broader social and economic conditions that shape public health. The 2025 edition highlights how delays in climate action are costing lives, straining health systems, and undermining economies worldwide.
Fossil fuel-driven air pollution claimed 1.72 million lives in India in 2022, according to The Lancet Countdown 2025Report on Health and Climate Change, published on Wednesday (October 29). Coal and petrol use alone accounted for over half a million deaths, underscoring the deadly cost of delayed climate action, the report, which tracked health impacts in more than 100 countries, stated.
The economic toll is staggering — premature mortality due to outdoor air pollution cost India $339.4 billion, equivalent to 9.5% of its GDP. Household air pollution, largely from solid biofuels, caused 113 deaths per 100,000, with rural areas suffering more (125 per 100,000) than urban areas (99 per 100,000), the report said.
In 2024, the average Indian experienced 19.8 heatwave days, with 6.6 days directly attributable to climate change. The country also witnessed a record high of 366 hours of heat exposure, posing moderate to severe health risks during outdoor activity. This extreme heat led to the loss of 247 billion labour hours, costing the economy $194 billion, with the agriculture and construction sectors bearing the brunt.
The report said that India’s preparedness for a low-carbon transition declined by 2% in 2024, reflecting a worrying backslide in climate resilience.
Disease, displacement
The average transmission rate (R₀) for dengue via Aedes albopictus mosquitoes surged from 0.86 to 1.60 between 1951-1960 and 2015-2024, crossing the epidemic threshold. The coastal area suitable for Vibrio transmission rose 46% compared to the 1982-2010 baseline, the report said.
India’s vulnerability to the rise in sea level is growing, with over 18 million people living less than one metre above sea level. Meanwhile, 35% of the country’s land experienced at least one month of extreme drought annually from 2020-2024, a 138% increase since the 1950s, the report said.
Between 2020 and 2024, wildfire smoke (PM2.5) caused an average of 10,200 deaths annually in India, a 28% increase from the previous decade.
Fossil fuel dependence
India spent $48.5 billion on net fossil fuel subsidies in 2023, while its carbon revenue remained negative. Coal still accounts for 46% of total energy supply and 72% of electricity generation, while renewables contribute just 2% to energy supply and 10% to electricity.
The transport sector is similarly skewed, with 96% of road energy coming from fossil fuels, and electricity making up a mere 0.3%. Household energy use is dominated by solid biofuels (58%), contributing significantly to indoor air pollution.
Environmental degradation
India lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover between 2001 and 2023, with 143,000 hectares lost in 2023 alone, primarily due to forestry. Urban greenness is declining, with 110 of 189 major cities showing very low levels of vegetation. Only Tamluk in West Bengal was classified as having high urban greenness. From 2015 to 2024, average urban greenness declined by 3.6%.
In 2022, red meat and dairy accounted for 65% of agricultural emissions. Overall, agricultural emissions rose 13% between 2000 and 2022, highlighting the need for sustainable food system transitions.
In 2024, Indian newspapers published 296 articles on climate change and health — a 19% increase from 2023. These articles made up 15.3% of all climate coverage, indicating growing public awareness. However, scientific research remains uneven — while 208 papers (75%) focused on health impacts, only one paper (0.4%) addressed indigenous communities.
India’s challenges mirror those faced by many other nations. The report includes data from over 100 countries, with regional deep dives into Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Countries grappling with rising heat-related mortality, wildfire exposure, and climate-sensitive disease outbreaks include Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and Chile. The findings reveal a shared global vulnerability but also highlight disparities in preparedness and response.
Despite grim statistics, the report notes encouraging signs. Between 2010 and 2022, annually, 160,000 premature deaths were prevented worldwide due to the reduced use of fossil fuels.
“The health of people around the world is at the mercy of fossil fuels. We are seeing record levels of heat-related deaths, infectious disease transmission, and economic losses. The science is clear: delaying climate action is costing lives,” Marina Romanello, executive director of The Lancet Countdown, said.
“The climate crisis is a health crisis. Every fraction of a degree matters. Every policy decision matters. We need urgent, health-centred climate action from governments, corporations, and communities,” Anthony Costello, co-chair of The Lancet Countdown, said.
The Lancet Countdown is an annual, peer-reviewed global collaboration that monitors the evolving relationship between climate change and health. It assesses how climate change is affecting health outcomes, health systems, and the broader social and economic conditions that shape public health. The 2025 edition highlights how delays in climate action are costing lives, straining health systems, and undermining economies worldwide.
