Heatwave health risk index for Karnataka, India

Introduction: With the rise in global temperatures due to climate change, heatwaves are predicted to become more frequent, prolonged, and intense. Safeguarding people's health, well-being, and quality of life from the effects of climate change and its extremes is now a priority for policymakers...

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Main Authors: Vidhatri Thakkar, Vidya Srinivas, Pradeep Marula Siddhappanavara, Tashina Madappa, Anushiya Jeganathan, Indu K. Murthy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:The Journal of Climate Change and Health
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278225000136
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author Vidhatri Thakkar
Vidya Srinivas
Pradeep Marula Siddhappanavara
Tashina Madappa
Anushiya Jeganathan
Indu K. Murthy
author_facet Vidhatri Thakkar
Vidya Srinivas
Pradeep Marula Siddhappanavara
Tashina Madappa
Anushiya Jeganathan
Indu K. Murthy
author_sort Vidhatri Thakkar
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: With the rise in global temperatures due to climate change, heatwaves are predicted to become more frequent, prolonged, and intense. Safeguarding people's health, well-being, and quality of life from the effects of climate change and its extremes is now a priority for policymakers and international and national governments. High-risk areas, zones, districts, and communities must be recognized ahead of time to better guide planning and preparedness. This study focused on assessing the heatwave occurrence and developing a heatwave health risk index (HHRI) at the district level in Karnataka. Materials & Method: A comprehensive framework by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on a climate change risk assessment methodology incorporating hazard, exposure, and vulnerability was employed to develop the HHRI under the current climate change scenario. Among the crucial determinants influencing the HHRI, 11 indicators were selected, encompassing heatwave occurrence, diurnal temperature ranges, population density, outdoor labor population, population commuting on foot, number of medical institutions, green cover, elderly population, people with disabilities, multidimensional poverty index, and health index. Results: The districts with higher hazard, exposure, and vulnerability were identified and mapped along with their risk driving key factors. Among the 31 districts examined in our study, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Gadag, and Dharwad districts were classified in the very high-risk category, whereas 9 were classified in the high-risk category. Conclusion: The study findings on the variations in heatwave health risks among districts will enable policymakers to prioritize and execute targeted strategies to successfully reduce climate impacts.
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spelling doaj-art-36656bc0147f4d25bb3ac2548e0e5bee2025-08-20T02:16:12ZengElsevierThe Journal of Climate Change and Health2667-27822025-03-012210042810.1016/j.joclim.2025.100428Heatwave health risk index for Karnataka, IndiaVidhatri Thakkar0Vidya Srinivas1Pradeep Marula Siddhappanavara2Tashina Madappa3Anushiya Jeganathan4Indu K. Murthy5Analyst, Climate, Environment & Sustainability Sector, Center for Study of Science, Technology & Policy (CSTEP), Bengaluru 560094, IndiaSenior Associate, Climate, Environment & Sustainability sector, Center for Study of Science, Technology & Policy (CSTEP), Bengaluru 560094, IndiaAnalyst, Climate, Environment & Sustainability Sector, Center for Study of Science, Technology & Policy (CSTEP), Bengaluru 560094, India; Senior Associate, Climate, Environment & Sustainability sector, Center for Study of Science, Technology & Policy (CSTEP), Bengaluru 560094, India; Research Scientist, Climate, Environment & Sustainability sector, Center for Study of Science, Technology & Policy (CSTEP), Bengaluru 560094, India; Principal Research Scientist, Climate, Environment & Sustainability Sector, Center for Study of Science, Technology & Policy (CSTEP), Bengaluru 560094, India; Senior Analyst, Climate, Environment & Sustainability Sector, Center for Study of Science, Technology & Policy (CSTEP), Bengaluru 560094, IndiaSenior Associate, Climate, Environment & Sustainability sector, Center for Study of Science, Technology & Policy (CSTEP), Bengaluru 560094, IndiaResearch Scientist, Climate, Environment & Sustainability sector, Center for Study of Science, Technology & Policy (CSTEP), Bengaluru 560094, India; Corresponding author.Principal Research Scientist, Climate, Environment & Sustainability Sector, Center for Study of Science, Technology & Policy (CSTEP), Bengaluru 560094, IndiaIntroduction: With the rise in global temperatures due to climate change, heatwaves are predicted to become more frequent, prolonged, and intense. Safeguarding people's health, well-being, and quality of life from the effects of climate change and its extremes is now a priority for policymakers and international and national governments. High-risk areas, zones, districts, and communities must be recognized ahead of time to better guide planning and preparedness. This study focused on assessing the heatwave occurrence and developing a heatwave health risk index (HHRI) at the district level in Karnataka. Materials & Method: A comprehensive framework by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on a climate change risk assessment methodology incorporating hazard, exposure, and vulnerability was employed to develop the HHRI under the current climate change scenario. Among the crucial determinants influencing the HHRI, 11 indicators were selected, encompassing heatwave occurrence, diurnal temperature ranges, population density, outdoor labor population, population commuting on foot, number of medical institutions, green cover, elderly population, people with disabilities, multidimensional poverty index, and health index. Results: The districts with higher hazard, exposure, and vulnerability were identified and mapped along with their risk driving key factors. Among the 31 districts examined in our study, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Gadag, and Dharwad districts were classified in the very high-risk category, whereas 9 were classified in the high-risk category. Conclusion: The study findings on the variations in heatwave health risks among districts will enable policymakers to prioritize and execute targeted strategies to successfully reduce climate impacts.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278225000136HeatwavesDTRExposureVulnerabilityHealth riskIPCC risk assessment
spellingShingle Vidhatri Thakkar
Vidya Srinivas
Pradeep Marula Siddhappanavara
Tashina Madappa
Anushiya Jeganathan
Indu K. Murthy
Heatwave health risk index for Karnataka, India
The Journal of Climate Change and Health
Heatwaves
DTR
Exposure
Vulnerability
Health risk
IPCC risk assessment
title Heatwave health risk index for Karnataka, India
title_full Heatwave health risk index for Karnataka, India
title_fullStr Heatwave health risk index for Karnataka, India
title_full_unstemmed Heatwave health risk index for Karnataka, India
title_short Heatwave health risk index for Karnataka, India
title_sort heatwave health risk index for karnataka india
topic Heatwaves
DTR
Exposure
Vulnerability
Health risk
IPCC risk assessment
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278225000136
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AT tashinamadappa heatwavehealthriskindexforkarnatakaindia
AT anushiyajeganathan heatwavehealthriskindexforkarnatakaindia
AT indukmurthy heatwavehealthriskindexforkarnatakaindia