National-level efforts have been made to develop Climate Action Plans
- Telangana Heat Wave Action Plan
- Odisha Heat Wave Action Plan
- Andhra Pradesh Heat Wave Action Plan
- Kerala Heat Action Plan
- Maharashtra Heat Action Plan
- Karnataka Heat Action Plan
- Uttar Pradesh Heat Action Plan
- Rajasthan Heat Action Plan
- Tamil Nadu Heat Wave Action Plan
- Bihar Heat Action Plan
- Haryana Heatwave Action Plan
- Madhya Pradesh State Action Plan on Climate Change
India City Level Heat Action Plans
- Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan
- Nagpur Heat Wave Action Plan
- Surat Heat Action Plan
- Vijayawada City Heat Mitigation Action Plan
India District Heat Action Plans
- Hazaribagh Heat Action Plan
- Gorakhpur Heat Action Plan
India-City Level Heat Action Plans
Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan- The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) prepared the first Heat Action Plan (HAP) in 2013 to address the increasing frequency and severity of heat waves. The plan aims to provide a framework for the implementation, coordination, and evaluation of extreme heat response activities in Ahmedabad. The primary objective is to alert populations most at risk of heat-related illness about extreme heat conditions and take appropriate precautions. A 2018 study found that an estimated 2,380 deaths were avoided in the post-HAP period, suggesting the HAP protected health against mortality associated with extreme heat. The plan aims to implement four key strategies: building public awareness, initiating an early warning system, building capacity building among healthcare professionals, and reducing heat exposure and promoting adaptive measures. Collaboration with non-governmental organizations is also identified as a means to expand outreach and communication with the city’s most at-risk communities. Since 2013, Ahmedabad’s strong local government leadership has effectively implemented the Heat Action Plan, ensuring the protection of vulnerable communities from the harmful health effects of extreme heat. (Source: https://iiphg.edu.in/heat-action-plan-hap/)
Nagpur Regional Heat Action Plan- The Nagpur Regional Heat Action Plan has facilitated coordination between Nagpur and four surrounding cities, establishing the first regional strategy to heat wave planning in India, thanks to the excellent leadership of the Maharashtra State Public Health Department and Nagpur Municipal Corporation. According to an analysis of Nagpur’s death rates, a heat warning day (orange) should occur at 43°C (109.4°F), and an extreme heat alert day (red) should occur at 45°C (113°F) or above. As part of the Heat Action Plan, Nagpur has also designated certain demographics as being more vulnerable, including children and the elderly. There have already been 340 reports of heat-related illnesses in 2016. Although the exact number of heat-related deaths is unknown at this time, it may reach sixteen.
Surat Heat Action Plan – Surat, a 13-meter-elevated port city on the Tapi river, experiences mild to warm summer temperatures averaging 34oC, cool winters around 14oC, and high relative humidity due to its proximity to the Arabian Sea. In peak summer, the maximum temperature can go up to 44-45o With its proximity to the Arabian Sea, the relative humidity of the city remains high. The Surat Heat Action Plan (SHAP) aims to reduce extreme heat impacts on vulnerable people through early warning systems and integrated coordination with agencies. It involves mapping potential heat island areas, raising awareness, establishing coordination, building capacity, using adaptation and mitigation tools, and enhancing resilience against extreme heat waves. The plan includes identifying vulnerable populations, developing strategies, implementing the plan, and regularly updating it.
Vijayawada City Heat Mitigation Action Plan – The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation and the Joint Collector, Krishna District will activate a control room to monitor the heat wave, with daily situation reports submitted to the control room. A public awareness campaign will be organized, with the Public Relation Officer and District Information Officer coordinating efforts. Proper drinking water supply management and public drinking water points will be established, and adequate medical arrangements will be made at Public Health Centers and hospitals. A special ward for heat wave patients will be opened in the Civil Hospital, and sufficient arrangements will be made for water coolers, fans, generators, and life-saving medicines. The Engineering Department will repair defunct tube wells and mobilize water tankers for emergencies. The Municipal Commissioner will appeal to the public to keep water pots at terraces, balconies, and gardens to save birds. Measures will be taken to prevent heat exposure, reschedule classes and examinations, and reschedule working hours for laborers. The Chief Medical Officer will also issue instructions to ESI dispensers to treat the general public. (Source: http://www.apsdma.ap.gov.in/common_mns/DM_plans/CDMP_pdf/CDMP-Vijayawada.pdf)
Jodhpur Heat Action Plan 2023 – Rajasthan’s Ganganagar exceeded 45°C six times, breaking all-time maximum temperature records. Jodhpur, known for its semi-arid climate, is developing a local Heat Action Plan (HAP) to adapt to extreme heat hazards. The plan aims to implement vulnerability assessment, establish an early warning system, build health system capacity, raise public awareness, collaborate with non-government organizations, and evaluate the impact. This follows Ahmedabad’s successful implementation of South Asia’s first HAP, which has helped prevent over 1,100 deaths annually. The plan will involve vulnerability assessment, early warning system, preparedness, health system capacity building, public awareness, community outreach, and collaboration with non-government organizations. (Source: https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/jodhpur-heat-action-plan-2023.pdf)
Vadodara Heat Action Plan 2021-22 – The Heat-Wave Action plan in India aims to provide a framework for implementing, coordinating, and evaluating extreme heat response activities in cities and towns to reduce the negative impact of extreme heat. The plan focuses on alerting populations at risk of heat-related illness and taking appropriate precautions. Preventive heat management and administrative action are required by concerned ministries/departments. State Governments should also prepare a comprehensive plan to combat heat waves. Key strategies for heat wave plan implementation include mobilizing individuals and communities to protect themselves, their neighbors, friends, relatives, and themselves from avoidable health problems during hot weather. Government agencies will play a critical role in preparing and responding to heat waves at a local level, working closely with health and related departments on long-term strategic plans. Individuals, community groups, and the media are also essential in fighting the effects of extreme heat. (Source: https://vmc.gov.in/pdf/2021/Heat%20Wave%20action%20Plan%202021-22.pdf)
Rajkot Climate Adaptive Heat Action Plan – The Integrated Research & Action for Development (IRADe), in collaboration with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Canadian Rajkot Municipal Corporation, and the Indian Institute of Public Health-Gandhinagar, has developed a Climate Adaptive Heat Stress Action Plan for Rajkot. The plan aims to implement, coordinate, and evaluate extreme heat response activities, raise awareness among individuals at risk of heat-related illness, and reduce the impact of heat waves on health, productivity, and livelihood. The plan also includes a detailed review of historical climatology, ward level temperature profiling, vulnerability assessment, and evaluation of heat risks and vulnerability hotspots. The analysis of climatological variance (Maximum Temperature, Minimum Temperature, Relative Humidity) in March revealed an increase in maximum temperature and humidity, leading to an increase in heat wave events and early arrival of hot days, indicating the need for local authorities to prepare earlier. The Heat Action Plan, based on a comprehensive analysis of climatology and vulnerability in Rajkot, outlines a framework for extreme heat response, guiding mitigation and adaptive measures to prevent loss of life and productivity, and involving all stakeholders for a citywide strategy. (Source: https://climateandcities.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Review-of-Heat-Action-Plans.pdf)
Bhubaneswar Climate Adaptive Heat Action Plan – The Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH)-Bhubaneswar has developed a Climate Adaptive Heat Stress Action Plan for Bhubaneswar, in collaboration with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Government of Canada, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, and the Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH-Bhubaneswar). The plan aims to implement, coordinate, and evaluate extreme heat response activities in Bhubaneswar, raise awareness among individuals at risk of heat-related illness, and reduce the impact of heat waves on health, productivity, and livelihood. The plan also includes thermal hotspot mapping, which helps focus interventions on areas experiencing temperatures above the average monthly maximum. The Heat Action Plan, informed by the comprehensive analysis of climatology and vulnerability of wards in Bhubaneswar, provides a framework for implementation, coordination, and evaluation of extreme heat response in the city. It guides on mitigative and adaptive measures to avert loss of life and productivity. The plan aims to be more spatially oriented and gender-sensitive while supporting the city’s planning and prioritizing adaptive resilience. (Source: https://climateandcities.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Bhubaneswar-Heat-Action-Plan.pdf)
India District Heat Action Plans
- Hazaribagh Heat Action Plan
- Gorakhpur Heat Action Plan
Delhi Climate Adaptive Heat Action Plan
The IRADe, in collaboration with the IDRC, Canada, New Delhi Municipal Council, and IIPH-Gandhinagar, is developing a Climate Adaptive Heat Stress Action Plan for Delhi, aiming to reduce the impact of heat waves on health, productivity, and livelihood.
Researchers in Delhi developed thermal hotspot mapping using Landsat 8 data to identify areas with extreme temperatures. They analyzed Land Surface Temperature (LST) maps from 30 May 2019 (the day when Delhi recorded a maximum air temperature of 48 °C), focusing on zones Narela and Najafgarh, which recorded maximum LSTs of 60.48 °C and 59.06 °C respectively.
High heat days significantly impact casual labourers, with daily casual labourers experiencing the most wage loss (42%). Office workers also experience heat exhaustion. Hawkers and maids are least affected. Most workers report a 1-5% working day loss, with males experiencing a greater loss than females. Both genders experience productivity loss within 1-5 days. The Heat Stress Advisory for New Delhi Municipal Corporation was prepared in collaboration with the Medical Services Department of New Delhi Municipal Council. It is being disseminated to relevant departments and is being incorporated into prescription slips of hospitals. These Climate Adaptive HAPs help authorities be proactive, monitor the impact of HAP on high-risk households, and assess heat adaptation and mitigation. (Source: https://ddma.delhi.gov.in/sites/default/files/ddma/generic_multiple_files/nidm-heat_wave_action_plan_05.07.2023_1.pdf)