Overview

• Disaster mitigation funds can now be deployed for heatwave prevention measures, enabling local authorities, NGOs, businesses and individuals to co-finance cooling infrastructure
• NDMA guidelines issued in 2016 and updated in 2019 have supported implementation of decentralized Heat Action Plans in over 250 cities and districts across 23 heat-prone states
• India’s whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach brings together ministries of health, agriculture, labour, urban development, water, education and infrastructure alongside research institutions and civil society
• Long-term mitigation measures highlighted include cool roof technologies, passive cooling centres, urban greening, restoration of traditional water bodies and urban heat island assessments in city planning
• Dr. Mishra welcomed the UNDRR’s Common Framework and called for shared global efforts to create localized heat-humidity indices, affordable cooling solutions and equitable protection for vulnerable populations