India's recent nationwide election highlighted the pressing issue of climate change and its impact on the country. During the six-week voting period, extreme temperatures claimed the lives of at least 77 individuals, including numerous poll workers. As the election concluded, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar acknowledged that the voting should have been scheduled earlier to avoid the scorching heat.
A recent report by the United Nations warned of the grim consequences of rising temperatures in India. The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) projected that by 2030, the country could lose approximately 5.8% of daily working hours due to heat stress, particularly affecting outdoor workers in sectors like agriculture and construction.
The impact of the heat wave was evident in parts of Delhi, where water deliveries had to be rationed, disproportionately affecting the economically disadvantaged who rely on daily work for survival. Despite these challenges, climate change and environmental issues received minimal attention from the major political parties during the campaign, with voters primarily focused on unemployment and economic concerns.
