A new study by the Sustainable Futures Collaborative, a New Delhi-based research organization, reveals that India’s most heatwave-prone cities primarily rely on short-term responses, while long-term strategies remain rare.
Study Examines Heat Preparedness in Nine Major Cities
Researchers analyzed how nine Indian cities—Bengaluru, Delhi, Faridabad, Gwalior, Kota, Ludhiana, Meerut, Mumbai, and Surat—are preparing for extreme heat. These cities house over 11% of India’s urban population. The findings emphasize the urgent need to train government officials to manage future heatwaves effectively.
Short-Term Measures Dominate, Long-Term Actions Lag
The report highlights that while all nine cities have implemented immediate measures such as ensuring drinking water availability, adjusting work schedules, and increasing hospital capacity, long-term actions remain inadequate and poorly targeted. Without sustained efforts, India risks facing more heat-related deaths as heatwaves become more frequent and severe.
“Many long-term risk reduction measures take years to show results. They must be implemented urgently to prevent rising mortality and economic damage in the future,” said Aditya Valiathan Pillai, Visiting Fellow at the Sustainable Futures Collaborative and Doctoral Researcher at King’s College London.
Weak Heat Action Plan Implementation
Emergency responses are primarily driven by national and state disaster management and health authorities rather than city-level Heat Action Plans (HAPs). Since HAPs focus on long-term adaptation, their weak implementation undermines their effectiveness.
As reported by business-standard, the study also found that cities lack essential measures such as occupational cooling for workers, insurance for lost wages, improved fire management, and power grid upgrades. Existing initiatives, like tree planting and rooftop solar installations, fail to benefit the most vulnerable communities.
Urban Planning Fails to Address Heat Risks
Although the health sector has taken steps such as training healthcare workers and tracking heat-related deaths, urban planning policies have not integrated heat risks. Instead of preventing heatwave impacts, cities are merely treating their effects.
Researchers identified poor coordination among government departments, staff shortages, technical gaps, and a lack of urgency as key obstacles to long-term heat adaptation. They recommended that local governments use Heat Action Plans to monitor progress and implement sustainable solutions.
Call for Investments in Long-Term Solutions
The study urges states to allocate disaster relief funds toward heat mitigation and invest in long-term strategies. Additionally, if cities appoint Chief Heat Officers (CHOs), these officials must have adequate authority and resources to address heat-related challenges.
To improve preparedness, the researchers suggested that India’s ten most heat-affected cities should train officials responsible for implementing heatwave policies. Every district facing severe climate risks should have well-trained disaster management personnel to handle future heatwaves.