India Faces Escalating Climate Crisis: 60 Million at Risk from Rising Sea Levels

A new study reveals that by 2100, an estimated 60 million Indians could be at risk from rising sea levels, with the country facing an intensifying climate crisis. The research, published in The Lancet, underscores India's significant vulnerability to climate change and the severe consequences for millions of people by the end of the century.

Under a global temperature rise of 2°C, the study forecasts that millions of Indians will be affected by rising seas. Even in a more optimistic scenario, where warming is limited to 1.5°C, around 80 million Indians could endure extreme heat, with annual temperatures surpassing 29°C—a threshold considered the upper limit of human adaptability.

The study also highlights the looming threat of dangerously high wet bulb temperatures, which measure heat and humidity. Many regions in India could face conditions exceeding safe levels for human survival, placing immense stress on the population.

Beyond climate-specific risks, the study points to widespread environmental degradation across the country. As of 2020, roughly 1 billion Indians lived in areas unable to provide essential ecosystem services for human well-being, indicating a broader ecological crisis.

Water scarcity is a critical issue, with over 800 million people facing unsafe surface and groundwater conditions. This problem stems from excessive water withdrawals for agriculture, damming of rivers, and unsustainable groundwater extraction.

Air pollution remains a pressing threat, with over 1 billion people exposed to harmful levels of PM2.5, a particulate matter linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Aerosol pollution is also disrupting climate patterns, potentially weakening the Indian monsoon, a key driver of the country's agricultural productivity.

Additionally, the research highlights the impact of excessive nitrogen and phosphorus runoff from agriculture, affecting over 60 million and 1 billion people, respectively. These pollutants degrade freshwater ecosystems and pose health risks to communities.

While the study provides a broad overview of India's environmental challenges, the authors caution that national estimates may not fully capture local realities. However, the findings stress the urgent need for comprehensive environmental policies and adaptation strategies to safeguard India's vast population from these mounting climate and ecological threats.