The Centre for Policy Research (CPR) recently released its first critical assessment of the Heat Action Plans (HAPs) implemented across India, revealing that most may not be adequately tailored to the risks faced by local populations. Upon analyzing all 37 HAPs across 18 different states, CPR concluded that these plans might not be keeping pace with India’s rapidly warming weather conditions.
Heat Action Plans Explained
Heat Action Plans function as the primary policy response to economically damaging and potentially fatal heat waves. These plans prescribe a range of activities, disaster responses, and post-heatwave response measures aimed at minimizing the impact of heat waves.
Each HAP is prepared at state, district, and city levels. The goal is to execute short-term actions to limit the number of human deaths and other adverse impacts caused by heat waves, while also orchestrating long-term strategies to prepare for future heat waves based on data and analysis from previous ones.
Short term actions often involve alerting the public to impending heatwaves and coordinating various departments like healthcare and agriculture. Long-term actions, on the other hand, might encompass infrastructural changes such as the implementation of cool roofs, an increase in green cover, and the construction of water harvesting structures.
Key Findings from the Report
The report highlighted several key points. Firstly, it underlined how extreme heat, driven by climate change, poses an unprecedented challenge to human health and productivity. Landmark heatwaves in recent decades, including those in 1998, 2002, 2010, 2015, and 2022, have led to large death tolls and significant economic damage.
By 2050, it’s projected that as many as 24 urban centers could breach average summertime highs of at least 35 degrees Celsius. This will disproportionately impact economically weaker sections of society.
Most worryingly, many HAPs don’t cater to local contexts. They generally focus on extreme dry heat, overlooking threats posed by humid heat and warm nights. Furthermore, most HAPs adopt national heatwave thresholds that may not be suitable for the specific risks faced by local populations.
Funding and Legal Issues
The report also raised concerns about funding. Only three out of the 37 HAPs identify sources of funding, while eight others ask implementing departments to self-allocate resources. This suggests serious funding constraints.
Additionally, the legality of these plans is questionable as none of the HAPs reviewed indicate the legal sources of their authority. This reduces bureaucratic incentives to prioritize and comply with HAP instructions.
Transparency and Frequency of Updates
Another issue is transparency. There is no national repository of HAPs, and very few are listed online. The question arises about whether these HAPs are being updated periodically and if such revisions are based on evaluation data.
India’s Vulnerability to Heat
Between 1951 and 2016, concurrent hot day and hot night events have significantly risen in India. It’s projected that by 2050, these events will increase between two and four-fold under the intermediate and high emission pathways of RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5.
Changes Needed
Given the increasing threat of extreme temperatures, the world needs to reduce emissions in the next two decades to prevent the warming of temperatures beyond 1.5° C. Additionally, it’s crucial for HAPs to identify sources of financing and set up rigorous independent evaluations for constant improvement. Without these implementation-oriented HAPs, India’s poorest will continue to suffer from extreme heat, paying the price with their health and incomes.
