NEW DELHI: Around 1.5 million more people may die in India each year due to extreme heat by 2100, a new study has found. The study conducted by Tata Centre for Development (TCD) at the University of Chicago, USA, which was released at UChicago Centre here on Thursday, said that continued high emissions of greenhouse gases are projected to lead to a four degree celsius rise in average annual temperature in India by 2100.
“India is projected to see an increase of death rates due to climate change equal to about 10 per cent of the current death rate. That is 60 deaths per 1,00,000 population by the end of the century under the scenario of continued emissions,” the study said.
It said that the average number of extremely hot days around the country, presently over 35 degree Celsius, are likely to increase by more than eight times per year to 42.8 degree Celsius.
It said that the spike in average summer temperature and number of extremely hot days has an impact on mortality.
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Michael Greenstone, faculty director at the TCD and a co-founder of the Climate Impact Lab said these findings make clear that the continued reliance on fossil fuels globally will greatly harm the well-being of Indians in the coming years and decades.
Amir Jina, member of the Climate Impact Lab, said, “Having already seen 2,500 deaths due to a heat wave in 2015, the future is going to be even more worrying if India and the world does not change course to mitigate the harmful effects of climate change.”