Uncovering Multiple Environmental Burdens in India: Vulnerable Population Exposures at High Spatial Resolution (2000-2019)

Ankit Sikarwar, University of Minnesota

In the face of growing global environmental uncertainties, India stands as one of the most vulnerable regions due to its massive population, rapid urbanization, and pronounced socio-economic disparities. While exposure to individual environmental risks, such as air pollution and heatwaves, has been studied extensively, the simultaneous occurrence of multiple environmental burdens (MEB) remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap by quantifying population exposure to four key environmental risks: hazardous PM2.5 levels, rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and green deficits (vegetation scarcity), and exploring their convergence as MEB. High-resolution (1 km grid) spatial data for 2000 and 2019 are used to assess exposure among vulnerable population groups, including children under 5, adults over 50, and women of reproductive age (15–49 years). Additionally, the study decomposes exposure shifts to assess the relative contributions of population growth, environmental change, and their interaction. The findings, aggregated at village, district, and regional levels, are expected to reveal significant regional disparities, with densely populated and environmentally stressed areas exhibiting more pronounced interaction effects. This study offers critical insights into how MEB affects vulnerable populations, providing a robust framework for developing targeted, region-specific policies to mitigate the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation on public health.

Keywords: Remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Spatial Demography, Data visualisation

See extended abstract.