India faces rising heatwave threats and challenges

Source: The post India faces rising heatwave threats and challenges has been created, based on the article “We need to tackle heatwaves with greater urgency” published in “Indian Express” on 14th February 2025

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Environment and Disaster and disaster management.

Context: The article talks about the rising heatwave threat in India due to climate change. It explains its impact on health, water, power, and jobs. It highlights NDMA’s efforts in creating Heat Action Plans (HAPs) to improve preparedness, awareness, and long-term heatwave management.

For detailed information on Heatwaves in India read this article here

Why Are Heatwaves a Growing Concern in India?

1. Rising Frequency and Severity: India is experiencing more frequent, prolonged, and intense heatwaves due to climate change.
2. Global Temperature Increase: January 2025 was the 18th month in the last 19 when global temperatures crossed the 1.5°C threshold.
3. Health Risks: 90% of Indians are vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, overburdening healthcare systems.
4. Job Losses: The World Bank estimates 34 million job losses in India by 2030 due to heat stress.
5. Water Scarcity: 54% of India’s land faces high-to-extreme water stress. India has only 4% of the world’s freshwater but 18% of its population.
6. Agricultural Impact: High temperatures lead to crop failures, lower yields, and increased irrigation demands, affecting food security.
7. Power Shortages: 70% of India’s electricity comes from thermal power plants that need water for cooling. Heat reduces their efficiency and causes power shortages.
8. Industrial Impact: Increased electricity demand for cooling affects power availability for industries, reducing manufacturing productivity.

What Is NDMA Doing to Tackle Heatwaves?

1. Classified Heatwaves as a Major Hazard: The NDMA recognizes heatwaves as a serious disaster and works to improve public awareness.
2. Developed Heat Action Plans (HAPs): Over 250 HAPs have been created to manage heatwave risks at state, district, and city levels.
3. National Workshops on Heatwaves: It organizes workshops to improve preparedness and response strategies.
4. National Framework for Heatwave Mitigation and Management (2024): This framework shifts focus from short-term response to long-term preparedness and mitigation.
5. Encouraging States to Notify Heat as a Disaster: Helps in better resource allocation.
6. Early Warning Systems: Strengthened NDMA-IMD coordination for accurate and localized heat alerts.
7. Cooling Solutions: Promoting cool roofs, green infrastructure, cool rooms and water kiosks and revised working hours and cooling vests to reduce heat exposure.
8. Public Awareness Programs: Educating people on health risks, prevention, and response strategies.

What Are the Challenges Ahead?

1. Despite the increase in Heat Action Plans, implementation remains a challenge.
2. Scaling up successful strategies and ensuring local ownership are priorities.
3. Transforming cities into heat-resilient ecosystems is necessary to withstand rising temperatures in the future.

Question for practice:

Evaluate the effectiveness of NDMA’s Heat Action Plans (HAPs) in mitigating the rising heatwave threat in India.