The Scorching Heat in India: A Crisis of Survival with a Catch-22 Solution
As India battles scorching temperatures, Ramesh bravely endures the blistering heat to support his family The urgency to find a solution grows as extreme heat pushes the country towards its limits
During this summer's scorching heat in India's capital, Ramesh felt lightheaded but had no choice but to continue working under the relentless sun to support his family. "The heat is becoming unbearable," the 34-year-old bricklayer told CNN. "But we do not have a choice, we have to work."
Ramesh resides in a crowded suburb of western Delhi with his parents, three brothers, a sister-in-law, and three children. In recent years, Delhi has gained attention for its soaring mercury levels. When temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) last June, schools were shut down, crops were ruined, and energy supplies were strained. The intense heat also took a toll on Ramesh's family's health.
Ramesh, known by only one name, borrowed $35 - almost half of his monthly income - from family members to purchase a used air conditioner for his house. "It can be noisy and occasionally releases dust," he admitted. However, he cannot imagine living without it.
Ramesh sits outside his flat in Delhi.
In 2050, climate experts predict that India will be one of the first places to experience temperatures beyond survivable limits. During this same period, the demand for air conditioners in the country is projected to increase nine times faster than any other household appliance, as stated in a recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Ramesh's dilemma reflects the paradox confronting India, the world's most populous country with 1.4 billion people: As India becomes hotter and more affluent, the demand for AC increases. However, this in turn leads to a rise in temperature in the country.
According to data from the European Union, India releases approximately 2.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually, accounting for about 7% of global emissions. In contrast, the United States, with a quarter of India's population, is responsible for 13% of CO2 emissions.
The fairness of expecting developing countries to bear the burden of reducing emissions, despite having contributed the least to rising greenhouse gases, is a question that climate scientists frequently raise. During the recent COP28 climate talks in Dubai, India notably did not join the countries that committed to reducing emissions from cooling systems. During the summit's opening session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of all developing countries receiving a "fair share in the global carbon budget."
India, however, as one of the world's fastest-growing economies, is grappling with the challenges of the climate crisis. It is facing the difficult task of balancing its economic development with environmental protection.
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during a session at the United Nations climate summit in Dubai on December 1, 2023.
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Rising heat
Vast swathes of Indias population remain reliant on AC for their physical and mental wellbeing. And the countrys more tropical southern regions remain hot year-round.
In the last 50 years, the country has seen over 700 heat wave incidents, resulting in over 17,000 deaths, as reported in a 2021 study on extreme weather in the Weather and Climate Extremes journal. Just this June, temperatures in certain areas reached 47 degrees Celsius (116 Fahrenheit), causing the deaths of at least 44 individuals and causing hundreds to fall ill from heat-related illnesses.
According to a World Bank report from December 2022, India may contribute to 34 million of an estimated 80 million global job losses due to heat stress by 2030.
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In a country where over half the workforce is in agriculture, the rapid growth of air conditioner ownership is putting millions at risk as urban populations increase and incomes rise. According to the IEA, electricity consumption from cooling in India, including AC and refrigerators, has risen by 21% from 2019 to 2022. The IEA also predicts that by 2050, India's electricity demand from residential air conditioners will surpass the total electricity consumption of all of Africa today.
This demand is also worsening the worldwide climate crisis. Today, many air conditioners use hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as coolants, which are harmful greenhouse gases like refrigerators. Furthermore, air conditioners consume significant amounts of electricity, often produced by the burning of fossil fuels, compounding the issue even further.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) warns that failure to control air conditioning-related greenhouse gas emissions could contribute to a potential 0.5 degrees Celsius increase in global temperatures by the close of the century.
Farmers carries paddy on their shoulder after harvest in a field in Nagaon District of Assam, India on November 21, 2023.
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Indias dilemma
Despite ongoing efforts to improve living standards, India continues to struggle with widespread poverty, even as it invests billions in upgrading its transport and urban infrastructure.
Experts suggest that efforts to reduce cooling-related emissions could potentially hinder the economic growth of the country. At the recent COP summit, a pledge to reduce emissions from cooling systems by 68% by 2050 was signed by 63 countries, including the US, Kenya, and Canada. India, however, did not participate in this pledge.
Despite this, India has shown "important international leadership on cooling," according to Brian Dean, head of energy efficiency and cooling at Sustainable Energy for All, which helped to develop the agreement.
National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. (NSE) building in Mumbai, India, in December 2022.
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India has now joined the league of stock market superpowers. Despite not yet being part of the Global Cooling Pledge, there has been significant advancements in sustainable cooling within the country, and international partners are optimistic that India will consider joining in the future.
The 2016 Kigali Amendment, initiated by the United Nations, has led to many countries, including India, transitioning away from HFCs to eco-friendly alternatives like hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs). This amendment follows in the successful footsteps of the Montreal Protocol, which effectively phased out CFCs in the 1980s.
Radhika Khosla, an associate professor at the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment at Oxford University, emphasizes the need for assistance to help countries without access to sufficient cooling cover the costs of energy improvements. She highlights the importance of making cooling accessible to all without exacerbating global warming. "Cooling is now a global priority," she stated, "but effort is required to ensure universal access without contributing to planetary warming."
Khosla suggests sustainable passive cooling strategies such as planting trees for shade, creating water features, and using clever ventilation in courtyards to absorb sunlight. Additionally, she recommends installing ceiling fans in buildings as a way to reduce household energy consumption for cooling by over 20%.
She said that if successful, passive cooling measures could reduce the need for cooling by 24% by 2050, resulting in savings of $3 trillion and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 1.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide.
Residents fill water from a water tanker at a slum in New Delhi, India, on Friday, May 19, 2023.
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Cooling plan
In 2019, India announced its own cooling action plan, committing to decrease its power demand for cooling by 20-25% by 2038. The country remains dedicated to advancing cost-effective solutions that support its economic objectives.
Dean refers to it as "one of the initial worldwide comprehensive national Cooling Action Plans to be created."
He also emphasized that it was "a crucial moment for highlighting the importance of proactively and urgently addressing the growing demand for cooling, particularly in agriculture where sustainable cold chains can help prevent food loss and enhance nutritional outcomes."
Renewable energy is experiencing rapid growth in India, outpacing other major economies. Data indicates that India is on course to achieve its emission reduction targets, as stated by Leena Nandan, Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in India.
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"We have gone on to scale up our climate ambitions," she said.
But Indias AC boom has been visible in almost every urban corner of the country.
The capital is dotted with hundreds of construction sites, where workers are hard at work constructing towering high-rise buildings to accommodate the growing middle class of New Delhi.
Penta Anil Kumar, a businessman residing in the lively neighborhood of Lajpat Nagar in south Delhi, consciously chose to invest in an energy-efficient air conditioner to minimize harmful emissions, knowing the impact it has on the environment.
"He said that although he is aware that the use of air conditioners is adding to the rising temperatures, he also acknowledges that there is not much else he can do. Kumar is fortunate enough to be able to afford a higher-end AC model."
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Ghasiram, a 65-year-old laborer from the Rohini neighborhood in Delhi, spent $36 to purchase a second-hand AC unit for his family from a contractor. However, this amount is more than his monthly earnings.
Ghasiram, known by only one name, admitted that he was unaware that emissions from his AC were contributing to the increase in temperatures. Despite this, he is personally experiencing the negative effects.
"The heat has gotten worse over the years," he said. "When I need to step out to work in the heat, I feel nervous. I prefer to not go out."
