Expanding heat resilience across India 2019

Drawing lessons from the ground-breaking 2013 Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan, city, state, and national level authorities are ramping up to implement extreme heat warning systems and preparedness plans. In 2020, the national government is working with 23 states and over 100 cities and districts to develop and implement heat action plans across India. As a recent study found that Ahmedabad, one of India’s largest cities, avoided an estimated 1,190 deaths a year after implementing the country’s first Heat Action Plan (or “HAP”) in 2013. This plan included a heat wave early warning system, public outreach to explain heat-health risks, and trainings aimed at health professionals who diagnose and treat heatrelated illnesses.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Public Health Foundation of India - Indian Institute of Public Health-Gandhinagar (PHFI-IIPH-G) work with government leaders and key experts across India and internationally to develop, launch, and implement heat action plans. Heat action plans are a comprehensive early warning system and preparedness plan for extreme heat events with the objectives of broader public awareness and community outreach; early warning system and interagency coordination; capacity building among health care professionals; and reducing heat exposure and promoting adaptive measures. This issue brief highlights the progress at the city, state and national level in 2019 to improve climate resilience to extreme heat and captures key elements of heat action plans.