India ranks among nations with highest heatwave exposure

India, China, the US, and Russia are among the countries experiencing the highest heatwave exposure for infants and older adults, according to the tenth indicator report from the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change.

In 2025, the combined heatwave exposure for these vulnerable groups reached the second-highest level on record. Globally, older adults were exposed to 10.8 billion person-days of heatwaves, while infants experienced 1.1 billion person-days. When adjusted for population size, older adults averaged 12.8 heatwave days per individual, and infants averaged 8.7 days.

Researchers led by University College London noted that while climate action is increasing, it is not keeping pace with global warming. The report authors are calling for climate change to be declared a global health emergency and urge governments to prioritize health in climate decisions, including emissions targets and the provision of climate finance as grants rather than loans.