Why in news?
A new study has revealed that most Heat Action Plans (HAPs) in Indian cities fail to incorporate long-term strategies to combat extreme heat. Even cities with such strategies struggle with effective implementation.
The study, ‘Is India Ready for a Warming World? How Heat Resilience Measures Are Being Implemented for 11% of India’s Urban Population in Some of Its Most At-Risk Cities’, was carried out by the Sustainable Futures Collaborative (SFC), a New Delhi-based research organisation.
It warns that inadequate planning could lead to more heat-related deaths due to intensifying heat waves.
What’s in today’s article?
- Heat Action Plan (HAP)
- Early Onset of Extreme Heat in India
- Rising Heatstroke Deaths in India
- Key Highlights of the Study
- Way Forward: Need for a Comprehensive National Heat Strategy
Heat Action Plan (HAP)
- A Heat Action Plan (HAP) is an early warning and preparedness system designed to mitigate the impact of extreme heat.
- It includes both immediate and long-term measures to enhance preparedness, improve information-sharing, and coordinate responses to protect vulnerable populations from heat-related health risks.
- Key Recommendations of Heat Action Plans (HAPs)
- Immediate Measures
- Use of forecasts and early warning systems to alert the public and authorities.
- Public awareness campaigns on heatwave risks.
- Establishment of heat shelters and cooling centres.
- Provision of clean drinking water to prevent dehydration.
- Ensuring hospitals are equipped with necessary supplies and trained healthcare workers to handle heat-related illnesses.
- Long-Term Strategies
- Urban planning initiatives such as tree planting to reduce heat impact.
- Use of heat-resistant building materials to counter the urban heat island effect.
- Implementation of cool roofing technologies to lower indoor temperatures.
- Strengthening coordination among government agencies, healthcare providers, community organisations, and emergency services for better heatwave preparedness.
- Implementation of HAPs in India
Early Onset of Extreme Heat in India
- February saw record-breaking temperatures, with heatwaves officially reported in Goa and Maharashtra.
- Odisha, Telangana, and Maharashtra have already crossed 40°C.
- 31 States and Union Territories recorded night temperatures at least 1°C above normal, with 22 States/UTs experiencing 3°C to 5°C higher temperatures.
Rising Heatstroke Deaths in India
- Data from NDMA shows an increasing trend in heatstroke-related deaths between 2020 and 2022, with fatalities rising from 530 in 2020 to 730 in 2022.
- However, in 2024, reported cases dropped to 269 suspected and 161 confirmed heatstroke deaths.
- Despite NDMA’s report, non-profit organisation HeatWatch reported 733 heatstroke deaths in 17 Indian states between March and June 2024, raising concerns over heatwave preparedness and data accuracy.
Key Highlights of the Study
- Researchers identified nine Indian cities with populations over 1 million that are expected to face the highest increases in dangerous heat index values.
- The study was based on 88 interviews with officials from city, district, and state governments, as well as representatives from disaster management, health, city planning, and labour departments.
- Key Findings of the Study
- Short-Term Measures in Place
- All nine cities had emergency measures such as access to drinking water and adjusted work schedules to tackle immediate heat risks.
- Lack of Long-Term Strategies
- The study found that essential long-term actions were either absent or poorly implemented.
- These long-term actions include cooling solutions for vulnerable populations, insurance for lost work, fire management services for heat waves, and electricity grid upgrades.
- Misaligned Urban Planning Efforts
- Efforts like increasing urban shade and green spaces lacked a targeted approach for populations most at risk from extreme heat.
- Health System-Focused Strategies
- Most long-term measures focused on strengthening healthcare responses rather than preventing heat-related impacts in the first place.
- Institutional and Financial Constraints
- The study highlighted that a lack of coordination between municipal, district, and state government departments was the biggest obstacle to effective long-term heat action planning.
- Additionally, inadequate funding was a significant barrier to implementing sustainable heat resilience strategies.
Way Forward: Need for a Comprehensive National Heat Strategy
- Adaptation strategies are gaining importance as global efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions remain slow.
- Solutions like affordable cooling devices pose environmental risks due to ozone-depleting refrigerants.
- Sustainable alternatives such as green buildings, passive cooling, and green infrastructure must be integrated into urban planning.
- India must develop a national heat strategy and incorporate it into its National Adaptation Plan before COP30 in Brazil.
