No region will be spared, though some will suffer more due to geographical, economic, social, or other reasons, and differing capacities to cope with the changes. South Asia, especially India, will be among the hardest hit. A new survey shows that the impact varies across India. It says that the land area affected by temperature extremes expanded by 20% to 40% per decade across central and north-west India between 1971 and 2022. It found that areas appearing as scattered heat hotspots in the 1980s turned into broad, continuous zones of heat stress by the 2010s. North-west India showed the sharpest increases in daytime highs, heatwave severity, and humid heat stress. Southern India is drying at the fastest rate, with drought hotspots centred along the eastern coast. The north-eastern region has shown rising hydro-climatic extremes, with short-duration heavy downpours and more frequent drought episodes.

The study, Evolution of Climate Extremes Over the Indian Subcontinent Using a Revised CEI, was conducted by scientists from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), and Atria University. It combined seven separate hazards, including daytime heat, humid heat, heatwave severity, and drought, into a single India Climate Extremes Index. Over five decades, the index shows, India has not only warmed but also experienced expanding zones of heat and drought extremes. South India is drying up the fastest, with Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu consistently recording drought conditions. More than 40% of the region along the eastern coast experienced droughts in recent years.

The study shows that the varying trends call for region-specific response plans to counter the effects of climate change. The authors of the study said that the response must focus on heat action for the north-west, water and drought resilience for the south, and flood and rainfall management for the northeast. They have called for district-level planning and monitoring, and for using the new index to find out the areas where climate stress is building up so that adaptation measures can be taken accordingly. District administrations and state governments should co-ordinate to optimise resources. Ideally, the climate strategy should have local, regional, and national elements in it, and be part of a global framework.