Mumbai Faces Rising Heat Risks, Urgently Needs Long-Term Solutions

Major cities in India like Mumbai and Delhi are facing more frequent and severe heat waves, but they lack effective long-term solutions to handle these challenges. A recent study by global experts highlights that while some immediate measures have been taken in cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai, there’s a significant gap in sustainable strategies to combat rising temperatures.

The study warns that current efforts often fail to address the underlying causes of vulnerability to heat. It identifies nine high-risk cities, including Mumbai, projected to experience dangerous heat levels due to factors like high population and humidity.

Mumbai, with its 12.4 million residents, already suffers from prolonged heat waves made worse by humidity. Despite having a State Heat Action Plan and a Climate Action Plan, these measures are deemed insufficient to meet the city’s growing heat challenges.

One of the main issues highlighted is the lack of comprehensive urban planning that integrates long-term heat resilience into development strategies. The report points out challenges such as poor coordination among government agencies, shortages in technical expertise, and a slow response to climate risks.

The study recommends that cities strengthen their Heat Action Plans with sustainable strategies, including expanding cooling options for vulnerable households, providing insurance for heat-affected workers, improving emergency services, and upgrading electricity grids to handle increased cooling needs.

It also underscores the role of civil society in advocating for climate-focused policies and urges Indian cities to move from reactive responses to proactive long-term measures to protect public health and urban sustainability amidst worsening climate change.