The political and environmental situation in India is “heating”. While our Netas continues to make a high commitment to environmentally friendly initiatives to cool down “temperature” and “temperature,” the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) warns that India will increase heat wave days in 2025. Some states may face 10 to 11 heat wave days, from the usual four to seven. The 536-day heatwave day in 2024 highlights the urgent need to address extreme heat in urban centers.
A recent report by Delhi’s think tank Sustainable Futures Cooperation (SFC) examines whether urban areas in India are ready for a warming world. Using satellite imagery, climate modeling, interviews with nearly 90 government officials, and vulnerability assessments, the report identified the highest risk areas and assessed current thermal resilience measures. Although short-term measures such as water allocation and changing working schedules provide temporary relief, the report shows a lack of a long-term thermal elastic strategy. Rapid urban expansion, coupled with inadequate planning, put vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children and outdoor workers at a higher risk.
Short-term thermal reaction
Indian cities often take short-term measures during heat waves, including increased water supply, adjusted working hours and emergency health care. Although essential, these measures only address the symptoms of the problem, not its root cause.
“When heat waves are announced, guidelines are issued, such as temporarily increasing the capacity of the health system and distributing water to people who are prone to damage. These short-term responses will be with these local governments about 80% of the governments that follow the guidelines,” he added. “This issue is caused by a long-term thermal action plan, which has less impact due to the lack of legal support, financing and institutional support. The thermal action plan is not integrated into the daily operations of local governments, thus making it less efficient.”
Divyashi Arora is a student at the Centre for Urban Policy and Governance in Mumbai and is an environmental researcher under the guidance of Dr. Manjula Bharathy. She said: “Urban planning must prioritize long-term thermal elasticity by integrating green infrastructure and cooling design into urban layouts. Solutions such as cool roofs, vertical gardens and passive cooling can reduce heat absorption and improve ventilation. This is important for efforts in these efforts, especially for women, especially those implemented by heat, which is also important for those efforts, especially for women, as well as for the sustainability of the implementation of heat and the scope of the key implementation.
Urban planner Bhaumik Gowande added: “To overcome the current coordination challenges, urban planners can use the Geographic Information System (GIS) as a core tool to adopt the concept of virtual cities. By continuously mapping temperature data, tree cover, establishing compliance, like energy protection ranges (energy protection ranges), and the characteristics of these areas, it can be initiated within this range to a fixed range, and a stable range can be performed in this regard. Green corridors are developed in high-heat areas.”
Long-term thermal elasticity
The SFC report highlights that India’s long-term thermal resilience strategy is hampered by institutional support and fragmented governance. Many cities still lack strong resilience plans. Pillai stresses the importance of integrating thermal elasticity into urban planning: “While it is considered a problem, it usually does not trigger policy changes until its health or economic impact has been felt. To mitigate this, we need to focus on capacity building within vulnerable groups, such as gig workers and street workers and street sellers.”
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The report’s main recommendations include regulations on cooling infrastructure such as reflective sidewalks, green roofs and improved architectural design. Technology can reduce extreme heat in urban areas. Solutions such as energy-efficient air conditioning, cool roofs and reflective pavements can help lower temperatures. However, technology alone is not enough. It must be part of a broader strategy.
As the temperature rises, air conditioning becomes necessary. “India’s air conditioning market is still in its early stages, with only 8-10% of the population using ACS. With the rise in adoption, we expect penetration to increase to 40-50% over the next decade, resulting in higher affordable and energy-efficient solutions.”
The report advocates for solar cooling systems and renewable energy solutions to make air conditioners more sustainable. “Technology such as energy-efficient air conditioners and solar cooling systems are crucial, but they need to be integrated with urban greening and sustainable building design.” Cities that combine green spaces with cooling technology are cooler than cities that rely solely on mechanical cooling.
Agriculture and calorie
India’s agricultural sector is under increasing pressure due to the increase in calories. Pillai stressed the importance of agricultural resilience: elevated temperatures reduce crop yields, especially in areas that rely on rain-fed agriculture. In addition, increased irrigation during heat waves can damage water resources. Key policy solutions Pillai pointed out: protecting crops, ensuring farmers receive insurance for crop failure, and ensuring cold chain preservation of agricultural products after harvest.
Sanjeev Rohilla, chief general manager of the Department of Climate Action and Sustainability at NABARD, says, “Collaboration between the agricultural sector and policymakers is vital to developing robust, heat-resistant farming systems. Policies must promote research, development, and widespread adoption of climate-resilient crops and farming techniques. NABARD is developing business models to support climate adaptation Through innovations such as Agrivoltaics and climate-rich crops intend to establish overall resilience in Indian agriculture.
