Rising Heat Stress in Urban India

Source-This post on Rising Heat Stress in Urban India has been created based on the article “More concrete, more heat: Why our cities are hotter than ever” published in “The Indian Express” on 29 May 2024.

UPSC Syllabus–GS Paper-3– Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation

Context– Large parts of the country are experiencing a brutally hot summer with prolonged heat waves. The article highlights that rising temperatures are not the sole contributing factor to the heat stress being experienced in urban India. Rising Heat Stress in Urban India

What are the other contributing factors to heat stress in India?

A report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) shows that the extreme discomfort during summer months in major cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Hyderabad over the last two decades is caused by a combination of factors:

1) Air temperature

2) Land surface temperature

3) Relative humidity

4) Rapid increase in built-up areas and concretization.

Impact-The heat stress poses a grave risk to lives, especially among vulnerable groups like the elderly, babies, pregnant women, those living in slums, and those working outdoors.

How has climate change aggravated the severity of heat waves in India?

It has led to higher temperatures and increased humidity, which intensifies the discomfort during heat waves.

Further, changes in land use and urban sprawl contribute to the “urban heat island effect,” trapping heat in city centers.

What is the “urban heat island effect”?

It refers to the trapping of heat in densely built urban areas due to materials like concrete, glass, and steel.
Consequences–A) This results in higher temperatures in city centers compared to surrounding areas.

B) Cities don’t cool down at night as quickly as they used to, leading to prolonged heat stress.

What should be the way forward?

1) Many states have collaborated with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to develop heat action plans (HAPs). However, most of these plans remain theoretical because of insufficient funding, detail, and a lasting vision for change. Therefore, there’s a requirement for stronger and more effective HAPs.

Read more-Heat Action Plans

2) There is a need to adopt city-specific management plans that consider local factors. Such plans should prioritize green spaces and water bodies and target all heat generators, including vehicles, industries, and concrete surfaces. For ex- Ahmedabad’s Cool Roofs program, which offers an affordable solution for the urban heat island effect.

3) There is a need to adopt long-term planning, combined with immediate actions during heatwaves to prevent cities from getting hot excessively and ultimately save lives.

Question for practice

What are the other contributing factors to heat stress in India? What steps can be taken to address this issue?