The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), along with The Rockefeller Foundation and Wellcome, have introduced important initiatives to protect people in South Asia from extreme heat. This region faces one of the highest risks from rising temperatures, which can lead to severe health issues and fatalities.
A Growing Threat
South Asia is home to about 25% of the world’s population and is warming up significantly—almost twice as fast as the global average. In India and Pakistan, scorching pre-monsoon temperatures regularly hit over 50°C. The impact is serious: heat-related deaths in South Asia exceed 200,000 each year. Moreover, the economic cost is staggering; India lost an estimated 247 billion potential working hours due to heat in 2024, translating to around $194 billion in losses, according to the Lancet Countdown.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo highlights that many heat-related deaths are preventable. “Heat health action plans can save lives,” she said, emphasizing the need for effective strategies.
New Initiatives to Tackle Heat
These new initiatives are part of the WHO-WMO Climate and Health Joint Programme, backed by an $11.5 million investment from The Rockefeller Foundation and Wellcome.
South Asia Climate–Health Desk:
This initiative, a collaboration with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and local meteorological departments, aims to improve how climate data influences health decisions. It will create:- Advanced early warning systems
- Comprehensive heat-risk assessments
- Decision-support tools for health officials
- Frameworks to combine research with operational health measures
South Asia Scientific Research Consortium:
This consortium, funded by a Rockefeller grant to the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Pune, will investigate how heat affects different groups like children, pregnant women, and outdoor workers. By establishing specific heat-risk thresholds for these populations, it aims to enhance preparedness strategies.
Building Resilience in Health Systems
The initiatives seek to create innovative partnerships between meteorological and health systems, areas that have not always worked closely together. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology at IMD, expressed optimism about this partnership, stating it will enhance early warning systems.
Dr. Alan Dangour from Wellcome pointed out that higher temperatures are a public health crisis, especially affecting vulnerable communities without access to cooling or healthcare resources.
Moving Beyond Old Methods
After facing a decade of severe heatwaves, experts agree that standard public health responses are inadequate. Dr. Naveen Rao from The Rockefeller Foundation emphasized the need to rethink how care is delivered, focusing on frontline solutions for vulnerable populations.
A Global Model for Action
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for urgent global actions against extreme heat, linking it to threats to lives and economies worldwide. By integrating climate data with health mechanisms, South Asia is becoming a leader in tackling climate-health issues.
This coordinated effort marks a significant long-term strategy aimed at transforming climate challenges into effective health responses, beginning with the first rollouts expected in 2026.
For further reading, you can visit WHO and WMO.
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WHO, WMO, South Asia heat, climate and health, early warning systems, Rockefeller Foundation, Wellcome, extreme heat mortality
