Over 1.7 million people died in India in 2022 due to air pollution and rising heat, the Lancet report reveals.
New Delhi: India faces an escalating public-health emergency as new data from the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change 2022 Report reveals a grim picture: pollution-linked deaths remain among the world’s highest. The report shows that 1.72 million Indians died in 2022 due to polluted air and rising heat, and the toll continues to climb in 2025.
Researchers warn that India now accounts for nearly 70 percent of global air-pollution-related deaths, making it the epicentre of a global environmental crisis. The combination of fossil-fuel dependence, toxic emissions, and climate-driven temperature spikes is taking a heavy toll on both health and the economy.
Fossil Fuels and PM2.5 Exposure Drive India’s Rising Death Toll
The report identifies fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and fossil-fuel combustion as the leading killers. These microscopic particles, emitted by vehicles, industries, and coal-powered plants, penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and respiratory infections.
According to the Lancet Countdown’s India data, 44 percent of air-pollution deaths stemmed from fossil-fuel burning in 2022, while coal alone accounted for roughly 394,000 deaths. The situation worsens each year, driven by rapid industrialisation and weak emission controls.
The economic losses are staggering. The study estimates that outdoor air pollution cost India US $339 billion in 2022 nearly 9.5 percent of the country’s GDP. Beyond the financial blow, air pollution has reduced worker productivity and increased hospital admissions across major Indian cities.
“Pollution is not just an environmental issue; it’s a national health emergency,” said Dr Amit Khanna, a public-health researcher. “India must accelerate its transition away from fossil fuels to protect lives and livelihoods.”
Economic Losses and Heat-Linked Illnesses Deepen the National Health Crisis
The Lancet report also highlights how extreme heat and air pollution are converging to create a deadly health cocktail. In 2024, millions of Indians endured record-breaking temperatures that worsened respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses. Heat-related mortality has increased by 23 percent globally since the 1990s, with India among the hardest-hit nations.
Nearly 247 million Indians were exposed to dangerously high temperatures and poor air quality in 2022 alone. Experts warn that the interaction between rising heat and particulate pollution amplifies the risk of death from chronic diseases, especially in urban areas.
Globally, the WHO notes that climate inaction is already “claiming millions of lives each year.” The Lancet Countdown urges India and other developing nations to implement immediate, science-based measures including strict emission limits, renewable-energy expansion, and climate-resilient health systems.
India’s challenge is enormous but not insurmountable. Transitioning to clean energy, strengthening air-quality monitoring, and enforcing emission regulations could drastically cut premature deaths. Public awareness and local-level climate action are equally vital.
As the Lancet Countdown 2022 report makes clear, tackling air pollution is no longer optional — it is a matter of survival. Every delay risks thousands more lives each year.
Tags: Lancet Countdown, PM 2.5, fossil fuels, climate change India, heatwave deaths, environmental health, WHO report
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