Where air pollution and heat overlap: more than 40% of Indians are exposed

Research in Motion - Inequalities in Brief No.1

With Inequalities in Brief, Sciences Po’s Centre for Research on social InequalitieS launches a new series of publications. The goal? To make cutting-edge research by its scholars accessible through a concise, rigorous, and impactful 4-page format. This first issue addresses climate-related challenges by examining the exposure of India’s populations to pollutants and heatwaves, using fine-scale spatial data. 

In his analysis, Ankit Sikarwar, Assistant Professor at Sciences Po – CRIS, reveals a striking environmental reality: over 40% of Indians now live in areas where air pollution and extreme heat overlap, exposing millions to compounded risks. Using high-resolution spatial data, Sikarwar demonstrates how these overlapping exposures have expanded geographically and intensified over two decades, with densely populated urban areas bearing the brunt. His findings underscore the urgency of locally tailored responses to India’s growing environmental and public health challenges.

Consult and download the first issue of Inequalities in Brief here.