Heat plan

• Early summer in India, with heatwaves reported in Goa and Maharashtra, and temperatures exceeding 40°C in Odisha, Telangana, and Maharashtra.
• 31 States and Union Territories reported night temperatures at least 1°C above normal, with 22 reporting temperatures 3°C to 5°C above normal.
• Rising global temperatures will lead to more intense and frequent heatwaves, requiring countries to prepare for heat events like earthquakes or floods.
• A study by the Sustainable Futures Collaborative found no long-term plans in place for heat-related preparedness in nine Indian cities.
• Short-term emergency measures include providing drinking water, adjusting work hours, and boosting hospital capacity.
• Long-term interventions like access to household or occupational cooling, insurance against lost income, fire management, and upgrading electricity grids are missing.
• Few cities have begun planning for expanded local weather monitoring, mapping urban heat islands, or training for heat plan implementation.
• Adaptation is shifting focus from cutting greenhouse gas emissions to managing heat responses.
• India must develop a comprehensive national heat strategy and embed it in its National Adaptation Plan.