Indian cities lack effective long-term heatwave strategies

A new report highlights that Indian cities are not well-prepared for heatwaves. It focuses on nine major cities, including Delhi and Mumbai, and reveals a lack of long-term actions to address heat-related challenges. The research was conducted by the Sustainable Futures Collaborative (SFC) and shows that these cities prioritize immediate responses instead of sustainable solutions. The nine cities included in the study represent over 11% of India's urban population. They are considered some of the most vulnerable to heat according to the SFC. The report mentions that actions like providing cooling options for people exposed to extreme heat or developing insurance for workers affected by heat are lacking in all nine cities. Aditya Valiathan Pillai, a co-author of the report, pointed out that people in lower socio-economic groups are particularly at risk. Many work outdoors in extreme heat and return to living areas that are often hotter than formal housing. This creates a severe situation for those already facing challenges. The report found that officials struggle to implement effective heat action plans. Issues include a lack of coordination and competing priorities. It recommends enhancing local heat action plans to better manage heat risks. The authors propose a multi-year capacity-building effort to improve city officials’ abilities to respond to heat challenges. They suggest creating permanent, funded roles in the most vulnerable districts and providing necessary training. Pillai emphasized the urgency of implementing these long-term measures to prevent increased health and economic impacts in the future.