Rising temperature and IMD warnings in India
India is increasingly facing the brunt of rising temperatures, with heatwaves becoming a recurring and severe challenge across the country. The year 2024 was the hottest on record, experiencing over 536 heatwave days during the summer. Projections suggest that 2025 will surpass this record. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports, February 2025 was the hottest and driest in 125 years. The IMD plays a crucial role in issuing early warnings and forecasts to help mitigate the impacts of these extreme weather events. Recently, the IMD has predicted that most parts of the country will be affected by heatwaves this summer. Along with a heatstroke warning, the IMD has also recommended precautions for the vulnerable population in regions like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Jharkhand and Odisha.
Rising temperatures in India impact agriculture and health, reducing crop yields, harming livestock, and threatening food security. A study by the University of Cambridge found that in 2022, India’s heatwave heightened health risks, food shortages, and mortality for nearly 90% of its population. Vulnerable populations, including those who work under the sun, and women are disproportionately affected as they grapple with heightened physiological stress, maternal health challenges, and psychological burdens. Hence, it is important to have a comprehensive strategy to mitigate the effects of the heatwaves and to make India more heat resilient.
Measures taken against heatwaves
India has implemented several measures to mitigate the impacts of heatwaves. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has developed a set of guidelines for the state governments and other stakeholders for managing heatwaves. The National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) also emphasises managing heatwave and delegates responsibilities to various stakeholders involving state governments, local bodies, NGOs and citizens. NDMA has also conducted heatwave workshops in collaboration with different heat-affected states.
Another measure are the Heat Action Plans (HAPs) which were introduced by NDMA in 2019. HAPs are comprehensive strategies designed to protect communities from the impacts of heatwaves, first systematically implemented in Ahmedabad in 2013 and later expanded to other regions. After the implementation of HAP in Ahmedabad in 2023, the number of heatstroke cases came down to 8 from 81 in the previous year and cumulatively, more than 2380 deaths have been avoided since 2013. While HAPs have been implemented in more than 23 states, very few cities such as Ahmedabad, Bhubaneshwar and Thane have successfully implemented them.
HAPs include early warning systems, public awareness campaigns, building cooling centres and heat shelters, providing clean drinking water to tackle dehydration, and emergency response measures. HAPs also emphasise capacity building among healthcare professionals to manage heat-related illnesses effectively. The long-term suggestions of HAP includes adopting urban planning strategies such as using heat-resistant materials for buildings to reduce urban heat island effect and using cool roofing technology to decrease indoor temperatures.
Challenges in financing HAPs
Though HAPs have been in place in more than 23 states, a study by the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) found that HAPs often lacked local context, struggled with inadequate funding and poorly targeted the vulnerable groups. HAPs also have weak legal foundations and are insufficiently transparent. Only 5% of the HAPs have conducted explicit vulnerability assessments and only 41% of the HAPs have processes in place for periodic reviews, leading to inadequate risk identification and mitigation.
Source: CPR India report
The study also points out that only 30% of the HAPs have a proper funding mechanism in place, and most of them rely on the local departments themselves to fund and allocate resources. This underfunding leads to a more short-term focused actions than long-term solutions which means actions are typically taken in response to immediate crises rather than through sustained planning. The Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) undertook a study which showed that even though the central government has spent more than US $39 billion for climate resilience, and state governments even more, HAPs are not implemented properly due to a financing gap. The CPI analysis also showed that collective annual investment needs of six states alone require US $5.2 billion from 2021 to 2030. The funding gap is exacerbated by the economic slowdown due to pandemic and the borrowing constraints due to new fiscal rules and pressure to pay back the existing debt.
Bridging the financial gap in HAPs
HAPs have an immense potential to mitigate the effects of the rising heat, and to make India heat resilient. In order to successfully implement HAPs all over the country, the following financial tools could be used:
- Leveraging centrally sponsored schemes (CSS)– Utilise existing CSSs that have linkages with heat resilience activities. For example, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) can be leveraged to enhance heat resilience by constructing groundwater recharge structures and undertaking tree plantations. Similarly, schemes under urban development, health, and agriculture can be tapped to integrate and finance heat-related interventions. This requires aligning HAP recommendations with eligible activities under these schemes, enabling direct budgetary allocations and approvals within existing fund flows
- Resilience bonds– As a subset of green bonds, resilience bonds finance infrastructure projects aimed at reducing the impact of climate-related risks. They can provide upfront capital for infrastructure projects designed to enhance resilience against heatwaves such as cool roofs, green spaces, etc. The investors earn interest unless heatwaves occur, so it’s crucial that the resilience projects are successful. A practical example is the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) US $700 million Resilience Bond issued in 2019. Part of the proceeds were allocated to the Qairokkum hydropower plant rehabilitation project in Tajikistan with a financing package of US $196 million, which was designed to enhance the facility’s resilience to climate variability, including heatwaves and changing river flow patterns, and to improve the country’s electricity supply
- Blended finance– Combining public and private funding can leverage public funds to de-risk investments, attracting more private capital for heat resilience projects. Although no example of blended finance for heat resilience can be found, in the Sub-Saharan Africa, blended finance was utilised for the M-KOPA project, a solar home system project targeting the low-income population. Access to cooling equipments like fans and air conditioners increased which helped the low-income population stay safe in extreme heat. Similarly, in India, state governments can use grants or low-interest loans to attract private investors, reducing risks. This ensures sustainable, large-scale funding for heat resilience, protecting people without burdening public budgets
While the NDMA has set guidelines and most states have adopted HAPs, effectively mitigating the effects of the rising heat requires a successful implementation of both short- and long-term solutions. However, local implementing departments struggle with funding these projects. Utilising the funds that are already in use for CSSs, issuing resilience bonds, and using blended finance can help bridge the financial gap, thereby making India more heat resilient.
Bibliography
https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1885718
https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/india-heatwaves
https://ndma.gov.in/sites/default/files/IEC/Booklets/HeatWave%20A5%20BOOK%20Final.pdf
https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/financing-indias-heat-resilience/
https://gca.org/what-are-resilience-bonds-and-how-can-they-protect-us-against-climate-crises/
https://gca.org/what-are-resilience-bonds-and-how-can-they-protect-us-against-climate-crises/
https://earth.org/financing-the-future-can-blended-finance-save-our-warming-planet/