Sansad TV: Heat Wave in India | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Heatwaves

• A heatwave is a period of unusually high temperatures, exceeding the normal maximum temperature during the summer season.
• Heatwaves usually occur from March to June and can sometimes extend into July.
• The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has set the following criteria for defining heatwaves:
• A heatwave is not considered until the maximum temperature of a location reaches at least 40°C for plains and at least 30°C for hilly regions.
• When the normal maximum temperature of a location is 40°C or less, a heatwave is classified as a departure from normal when it is 5°C to 6°C above the average, and as a severe heatwave when it is 7°C or more above the average.

Health Impacts of Heatwaves

• The health impacts of heatwaves usually involve dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
• Children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions are particularly vulnerable.
• People like vegetable vendors, cab drivers, construction workers, police personnel, roadside kiosk operators, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds have to work in extreme heat to make a living, making them highly susceptible to the adverse effects of heatwaves such as dehydration, heat-related illnesses, and sunstroke.

Reasons for the Increasing Number of Heatwaves in India

• The intensified effect of paved and concrete surfaces in urban areas and a lack of tree cover.
• Urban heat island effects can make the ambient temperatures feel 3 to 4 degrees higher than they actually are.
• The rise in global temperatures by an average of 0.8 degrees in the past century has led to an increase in heatwaves. Night-time temperatures are also rising.
• Climate change is causing higher daily peak temperatures and more frequent and intense heatwaves worldwide.
• The medium-high heatwave zone experiences a high intensity of UV rays.

Major Government Initiatives to Combat Climate Change

National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): The action plan includes eight major missions focused on solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, water conservation, sustaining the Himalayan ecosystem, promoting afforestation, sustainable agriculture, and strategic knowledge on climate change.

International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC)
• FAME Scheme for E-mobility: The Union Government launched the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles (FAME) - India Scheme in April 2015 to promote the sales of eco-friendly vehicles in the country. It is part of the National Mission for Electric Mobility.
• Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT) for Smart Cities.
• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana: The scheme aims to provide LPG connections to five crore below-poverty-line beneficiaries, reducing their reliance on fossil fuels and traditional cooking fuels like cow dung, thus minimizing air pollution.
• UJALA scheme: Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2015, the scheme targets the replacement of 77 crore incandescent lamps with LED bulbs.
• Swachh Bharat Mission

The Way Forward

• Developing a localized climate risk atlas at the national level.
• Utilizing existing technology while focusing on research and development to achieve our goals.
• Identifying heat hotspots through accurate meteorological data tracking and promoting the timely development and implementation of local Heat Action Plans, involving coordinated efforts among relevant agencies, to protect the most vulnerable groups.
• Reviewing current occupational health standards, labour laws, and sectoral regulations to ensure worker safety considering climatic conditions.
• Necessity for policy intervention and coordination across the health, water, and power sectors.
• Promoting traditional adaptive practices such as staying indoors and wearing comfortable clothing.
• Encouraging the adoption of simple design features like shaded windows, underground water storage tanks, and insulating housing materials.
• Implementing local Heat Action Plans in advance and ensuring effective inter-agency coordination to safeguard vulnerable groups.
• Making climate data accessible to everyone.
• Encouraging other developed countries to take action.
• Implementing a ban on single-use plastic, which could have a significant impact.
• Addressing climate change as a developmental challenge rather than just an environmental problem.
• Investing in research and development to drive innovation in sustainable and climate-friendly productivity, with the private sector playing a crucial role.
• Achieving India's ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions requires strong political will, meaningful engagement, and sustainable plans.
• Climate finance can serve as a powerful financial tool to align India's growth with climate change mitigation measures.
• All nations, particularly the G20 and other major emitters, need to join the net-zero emissions coalition and strengthen their commitments with credible, concrete, and enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions and policies before COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland.