Six in 10 Indians face heat stress, but only 10% have AC access: McKinsey flags growing climate risk
Executive Brief • Key Highlights
Fast factual intelligence distilled for busy investors, executives, and answer bots:
- ✓Nearly 60% of India’s population faces heat stress, but only 10% have access to air-conditioning.
- ✓A November 2026 McKinsey report showed that India faces big infrastructure challenges to protect people from rising temperatures.
- ✓Experts said, "The economic benefits of climate protection increasingly outweigh its costs" as heat risks grow.
Story at a Glance
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- BUSINESS
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- Business Today
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- 3 Minute(s)
- Market Focus
- India Economy
Nearly 60% of India's population lives in areas already experiencing heat stress, yet air-conditioning coverage remains at just 10%, highlighting a significant gap in the country's ability to protect households from rising temperatures. A new McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) report warns that India faces substantial financial and infrastructure challenges in adapting to extreme weather, even as the economic benefits of climate protection increasingly outweigh its costs.
The November 2026 report, Advancing Adaptation: Breaking Barriers to a Trillion-Dollar Opportunity, examines the investments required to protect populations against heat, drought, flooding and wildfires.
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