Tackle Heatwaves with Short- and Long-term Measures, Pg8

• India recorded its first severe heatwave of 2025 on March 15, 20 days earlier than 2024.

• 2024 was the warmest year on record; December 2022 was the hottest December since 1901.

• Over 23 States and 140 cities have HAPs (Heat Action Plans); however, most need better design, data usage, and focus on vulnerable groups.

• The economic loss from heat stress is estimated at 2.5–3% of GDP, with 75% of India's workforce exposed to extreme heat.

• Multi-sectoral, people-centric, and evidence-based heat plans are urgently required.

Detailed Insights:

• Health Impacts:

When temperatures exceed 37°C, the body’s ability to cool down fails, affecting vital organs like the brain, kidneys, and heart. Vulnerable groups include the elderly, women, infants, and outdoor workers.

• Socio-economic Impacts:

  • Reduces productivity of outdoor labour (agriculture, construction, etc.).

  • Results in loss of work hours—6% in India during 2023 alone.

  • Livestock and crops are impacted, endangering food security.

  • Heat-related stress may result in loss of 30–50% of GDP in tropical nations by 2100.

• Need for Better HAPs (Heat Action Plans):

Most current HAPs focus on:

 -   Early alerts


Awareness


Capacity building


Emergency services coordination

However, they lack robust vulnerability assessments, heat-mapping, real-time data, or public engagement mechanisms.

There is minimal participation of local governments, community organisations, or NGOs.

Need for a People-Centric Approach:

• Real-time monitoring, cooler shelters, night-time temperature monitoring, and materials with better heat reflectivity in housing must be integrated.

• Infrastructure must reflect local needs—urban slums, heat-prone housing, and the informal sector must be a focus.

• Awareness on ORS, hydration, and heat-appropriate clothing must be widely disseminated, especially among street vendors, gig workers, and schoolchildren.

Way Forward:

1. Update and adapt existing HAPs based on learnings and real-time vulnerability maps.

2. Integrate heat action into municipal disaster plans.

3. Use technological forecasting tools to predict and act in advance.

4. Promote climate-resilient infrastructure, cool roof initiatives, green buildings.

5. Enable community ownership and participation for hyper-local adaptation.

Mains Mock Question:

Discuss the growing threat of heatwaves in India. Evaluate the effectiveness of existing Heat Action Plans (HAPs) and suggest multi-sectoral and people-centric reforms for long-term climate resilience.