Giving Compass' Take:

• Climate change and extreme weather are continuing to having a drastic effect on the world's poor. Unfortunately, the perils for India's rural communities are only growing larger as they are more vulnerable to extreme heat because they often lack access to water, electricity, and health care.

• How can we utilize our efforts to aid India's poorer communities during the climate change crisis? What tools and support will be most beneficial?

• Read more about climate change's impact on India.

The record-setting heat that blanketed the planet this summer was a sticky reminder that as global temperatures increase, people on the margins of society—the sick, the elderly, and the poor—will suffer disproportionately. And, nowhere will this suffering be more acute than in India.

Poverty entraps more people in India than any other country. With some 270 million Indians (PDF) living below the World Bank's poverty line of $1.90 a day, escaping the elements has never been easy. Now, climate change and extreme weather are making it impossible.

In cities, the poor must contend with the effects of “heat islands”—developed areas that trap the sun's warmth and make temperatures significantly hotter than in rural regions. During heat waves, urban temperatures in India can be extreme even at night, making sleeping agonizing for those without proper shelter or modern cooling methods.

Read the full article about India's struggle with climate change by Azhar, Gulrez Shah at RAND Corporation.