Mumbai faces rising heatwave threat, lacks long-term plan: Study

Responding to a recent report by the Delhibased Sustainable Futures Collaborative SFC which has raised serious concerns about the preparedness of nine Indian cities including Mumbai for escalating heat waves experts have suggested that the specific causes behind rising temperatures before policymakers can formulate effective mitigation measures They also emphasised that green cover expansion must be prioritised to enhance urban resilience against extreme heatA solitary drinking water vendor braves the heat while plying his trade at Girgaon Chowpatty on March 12 PicSatej ShindeCoAuthored by experts from Kingrsquos College London Harvard University Princeton University and the University of California Berkeley the study reveals that these highrisk cities rely heavily on shortterm reactive measuresmdashsuch as emergency water distribution and hospital preparednessmdashrather than longterm sustainable solutions to combat rising temperaturesHeat vulnerabilityldquoMumbai is one of nine cities included in this study It is already experiencing early and longerlasting heatwaves We chose Mumbai for our study because of its high population 1244 million in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region according to Census 2011 and the high increase in the number of extreme Heat Index a measure of the combined effect of temperature and humidity days relative to a historical baseline Our climate modelling suggests that the city will see a sharp rise in these days as global temperatures breach the 15degC thresholdrdquo the study statesA fruit vendor cools off creatively near Kurla Terminus PicAnurag AhireThe researchers point out that Mumbairsquos combination of high temperatures and extreme humidity levels exacerbates the cityrsquos heat risk Mumbairsquos heat response is primarily guided by Maharashtrarsquos State Heat Action Plan HAP and the Mumbai Climate Action Plan While these list key actions for different departments before during and after a heatwave experts argue they do not adequately emphasise proactive longterm mitigation effortsWhat experts sayDr Y Nithiyanandam professor and head of Geospatial Research Programme at Takshashila Institution Bengaluru emphasised the critical need to identify causative factors before cities develop mitigation plans to address heat impacts He stated ldquoHeat impact source in urban areas manifests in two primary forms the urban heat island UHI effect and heatwave areas manifests in two primary forms the urban heat island effect and heatwavesA boy tries to beat the heat on Juhu beach on March 16 PicAshish RajeThe first is the local effect and the second is the regional effect Urban agglomerations are grappling with extreme heat raising questions about whether these temperature increases stem from local influences or global climate change The answer is not simple However to understand urban heat and mitigate its effects to a certain degree we must analyse the factors contributing to increased temperatures which ultimately affect the daily lives of citizensrdquoHe highlighted the necessity of narrowing down the problem in urban areas and identifying the specific causes behind rising temperatures Policymakers must first comprehend these underlying causes before they can formulate effective mitigation measuresThe foliage of trees in a Powai garden provides shade PicAtul KambleldquoIn a city like Mumbai rapid construction an increase in impervious surfaces a shrinking green cover and an increase in vehicular traffic contribute to rising temperatures Global warming exacerbates the situation Cities experiencing local and global heat stress are particularly vulnerable The impact is especially severe on the elderly infants and those with comorbidities Heatwaves unlike air pollution act as a silent killer while air pollution has visible indicators and identifiable sources Heat is often perceived as an unavoidable natural phenomenon with no direct accountabilityrdquo Dr Nithiyanandam saidMitigation methodsThe expert added ldquoA classic mitigation approach involves increasing green cover and expanding water bodies However there are practical challenges how much green cover can realistically be increased in dense urban settings Water shortages further complicate the situation though treated wastewater could potentially be used for ground and road sprinkling to cool down urban spaces The feasibility of such measures for urban civic bodies remains a concernrdquoA woman shields her son from the heat in Kandivli PicNimesh DaveUnderlined the importance of identifying primary heat sources in cities he said ldquoVehicular emissions account for 2030 per cent of anthropogenic heat in cities making them the secondlargest contributor after buildings Waste heat generated by traffic significantly adds to urban temperaturesrdquoDr Nithiyanandam pointed to mitigation strategies such as using heatresistant building materials low heat emission technologies making building facets which are less conductive of heat improving ventilation promoting urban agriculture and developing rooftop and vertical gardens as potential solutions and more importantly identifying suitable solutions for different urban pockets with respect to the causative factorsHowever he emphasised that the most urgent need is a wellstructured Heat Action Plan He said ldquoThe first step is to identify causative factors and demarcate areas experiencing the most severe heat impact Increasing vegetation cover using geospatial techniques improving urban planning and implementing sustainable cooling strategies are crucial for longterm mitigationrdquoMahesh Palawat vicepresident of meteorology and climate change at Skymet Weather said ldquoCities like Mumbai are becoming increasingly vulnerable to heatwaves and the UHI effect The rapid expansion of twotier and threetier construction along with unchecked urbanisation is exacerbating things The loss of green cover depletion of groundwater and continuous concreting further intensify heat impacts This January was one of the hottest on record followed by heatwaves in February and March clear indicators of worsening climate conditions To mitigate the effects of extreme heat cities like Mumbai must prioritise increasing their green cover Expanding urban greenery helps regulate microclimates reduce the UHI effect and improve air quality making cities more resilient against rising temperaturesrdquoHow is Mumbai preparingIn April 2023 heatstroke and sunstroke claimed the lives of 14 people during the Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony in Navi Mumbairsquos Kharghar The event held in an openair setting was organised to honour social activist and reformer Appasaheb Dharmadhikari The incident triggered a widespread debate on government priorities and its preparedness to tackle the escalating heat crisis In response to subsequent heatwave alerts this year the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC issued a comprehensive set of guidelines on March 10 to mitigate heatrelated risks and safeguard public healthA looming crisisThe studyrsquos authors caution that unless Mumbai and other Indian cities prioritise longterm resilience measures they will see an increase in heatrelated ldquoThese findings are a warning about the shape of things to come With the ongoing retrenchment of global decarbonisation efforts it will fall upon countries in the Global South to rapidly adapt to a hotter more dangerous future While progress on systems to respond to ongoing heat waves is both necessary and urgent equal attention needs to be paid to gearing up for the future Many of the longterm risk reduction measures we focus on will take several years to mature They must be implemented now with urgency to have a chance of preventing significant increases in mortality and economic damage in the coming decades At its core this calls for the reimagination of how Indiarsquos cities expand and developrdquo said Aditya Valiathan Pillai visiting fellow at Sustainable Futures Collaborative and doctoral researcher at Kingrsquos College LondonDangerous comboLucas Vargas Zeppetello assistant professor at the University of California Berkeley emphasised the unprecedented nature of the heat crisis stating ldquoWith increasing global mean temperatures itrsquos imperative to prepare for extremely dangerous combinations of temperature and humidity that have no historical precedent to become more common Preemptive longterm strategies for dealing with heat are central to this effortrdquo Harvard Universityrsquos Alexandra Kassinis added ldquoExposure to extreme heat and cooccurring humidity threatens lives and livelihoods A shift to futureoriented longterm and informed planning is vital for meaningful preparation and adaptationrdquoStudyrsquos findingsThe SFC study was based on 88 interviews with city district and state government officials responsible for heat action implementation in these nine cities The research included discussions with representatives from disaster management health city planning and labour departments as well as city and district administratorsThe report highlights that the shortterm solutions by the governments are crucial but warns that they are insufficient in addressing the escalating risks posed by climate changedriven heat waves Mumbairsquos Heat Action Plan and related strategies lack a robust focus on longterm resilience such as expanding urban green cover targeted cooling interventions for the most exposed populations and infrastructure strengthening including the cityrsquos electricity grids and fire services The study also highlights institutional gaps weak coordination among local bodies and chronic underfunding for structural interventions which further limit Mumbairsquos capacity to build lasting resilience against extreme heatThe SFC report is the first systematic assessment of heat resilience measures across multiple Indian cities examining the implementation of longterm protections in Bengaluru Delhi Faridabad Gwalior Kota Ludhiana Meerut Mumbai and Surat which are home to over 11 per cent of Indiarsquos urban populationA call for actionThe report calls for a fundamental shift in Indiarsquos approach to heat governance Ishan Kukreti programme lead at Sustainable Futures Collaborative pointed out ldquoOur findings show that disaster governance at the subnational level in India is still driven by the logic of providing expostfacto relief measures Such an approach will fall short in limiting the impacts of extreme heat as the world warms This calls for an urgent need to complement these measures with proactive longterm risk mitigation measures which will build resilience of institutions and communities in the face of risks posed by extreme heatrdquoTamanna Dalal research associate at Sustainable Futures Collaborative said ldquoThese findings paint a dire picture of Indiarsquos unpreparedness for an increasingly unliveable future that is already at its doorstep The current reliance on shortterm relief measures while necessary will not be enough as temperatures continue to rise We need immediate structural interventions to redesign our cities and build institutions that safeguard vulnerable populationsrdquoBMCrsquos precautionary measuresgtgt Even if yoursquore not feeling thirsty stay hydratedgtgt Regularly drink oral rehydration solution buttermilk coconut water lemon water or traditional cooling drinks like torani rice water to replenish fluidsgtgt Refrain from consuming alcohol tea coffee or carbonated drinks as they contribute to dehydrationgtgt Opt for lightcoloured breathable cotton garmentsgtgt When stepping out wear sunglasses a hatumbrella and appropriate footweargtgt Always keep a water bottle with yougtgt If you work outdoors make sure to use a hat umbrella or a cotton cloth to cover your head and facegtgt Apply a wet cloth to your head neck face and limbs to stay coolgtgt Use curtains shutters or sunshades during the day and keep windows open at night for ventilationgtgt Bathe with cold water and use fans or wet clothes to regulate body temperaturegtgt Avoid highprotein or stale food as it generates additional body heatgtgt Keep pets and stray animals in shaded areas and ensure they have adequate watergtgt Do not leave children or pets in parked vehicles as interior vehicle temperatures can rise rapidly leading to fatal heatstrokeCitizens urged to follow guidelinesgtgt The BMC has urged citizens to adhere to essential heatstroke prevention measuresgtgt According to the India Meteorological Department heatwave conditions are expected to persist until March 11 with a likelihood of repeated occurrences throughout March and Aprilgtgt To address the challenges posed by heatstroke and severe heatrelated illnesses BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani and Additional Municipal Commissioner Eastern Suburbs Dr Amit Saini have instructed civic authorities to implement preventive and emergency response measures for Mumbai residentsSCFrsquos recommendationsInstitutional changesStrengthen HAPs in local governments Institutionalise longterm actions mandate vulnerability assessments and identify urban heat islands for targeted interventionsLeverage disaster mitigation funds Utilise national and state disaster mitigation funds to finance longterm heat risk reduction projectsEmpower heat officers Ensure chief heat officers CHOs have the authority and institutional backing to address systemic issues effectivelyCapacity buildingTargeted training for HAP Implementation Launch a multiyear programme to train officials in Indiarsquos most heatvulnerable cities starting with a highimpact group and expanding over timeEstablish dedicated disaster management roles Create permanent funded positions in climatevulnerable districts to focus on longterm risk mitigationTech and innovationImplement an active cooling programme Provide subsidies or largescale purchase schemes for energyefficient ACs in the most heatprone urban areas and develop a national initiative to equip state and city officials with climate projections to better prepare for extreme heat conditionsWhat to do if someone experiences heatstroke symptomsMove the person to a cool shaded place wipe them with a wet cloth sponge their body and pour normaltemperature water on their head to cool them down provide fluids seek immediate medical assistance as heatstroke is lifethreatening rush the affected individual to the nearest hospital or health centre without delaySource BMC