Latest news with #AhmedabadHeatActionPlan
News18
3 days ago
- Health
- News18
India Proactive On Extreme Heat Risk Management: PM's Principal Secretary
Last Updated: Mishra emphasised that India's approach to heatwave management is a whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort, involving multiple ministries and stakeholders. Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr PK Mishra, has emphasised the urgent need to address extreme heat as a global crisis, echoing the call from the UN Secretary-General. While addressing a Special Session on Extreme Heat Risk Governance at Geneva on Friday, he underlined that rising temperatures posing a systemic risk to public health, economic stability, and ecological resilience, and India welcomes the UNDRR's initiative to advance the Common Framework for Extreme Heat Risk Governance as a platform for shared learning, guidance, and collaboration. Mishra emphasised that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has taken a proactive and forward-thinking approach to extreme heat risk management. He pointed out that India has moved beyond disaster response toward integrated preparedness and mitigation strategies. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) developed national guidelines on heatwave management in 2016, revised in 2019, facilitating decentralised Heat Action Plans (HAPs). He acknowledged that the Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan showcased the effectiveness of early warnings, inter-agency coordination, and community outreach in saving lives. 'Over 250 cities and districts across 23 heat-prone states have operational Heat Action Plans, supported by NDMA's advisory, technical, and institutional mechanisms", stressed the Principal Secretary, underscoring that strengthened surveillance, hospital readiness, and awareness campaigns have significantly reduced heatwave-related mortality. Mishra emphasised that India's approach to heatwave management is a whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort, involving multiple ministries and stakeholders. He highlighted the crucial role of public health institutes, research groups, civil society organisations, and universities in supporting local governments to enhance heat action plans. 'Extreme heat deeply impacts communities, and India has actively incorporated traditional wisdom and local experiences into its response", stressed Dr Mishra. He noted that schools have become catalysts for behavioural change, educating children about climate resilience. He also emphasised that hospitals and primary health centres must be strengthened to ensure swift and effective emergency responses. Outlining India's transition from a preparedness-only approach to long-term heatwave mitigation, including cool roof technologies, passive cooling centres, urban greening, and the revival of traditional water bodies, Mishra affirmed that India is integrating Urban Heat Island (UHI) assessments into city planning. Mishra announced a significant policy change, allowing National and State Disaster Mitigation Funds to be utilised for heatwave mitigation. This enables local governments, private sector entities, NGOs, and individuals to co-finance projects, promoting shared responsibility for prevention and mitigation efforts. He acknowledged key challenges that remain and called for a global focus on developing a localized heat-humidity index based on real-time data to enhance early warning systems, advancing building technologies and passive cooling innovations that are affordable and culturally appropriate and addressing equity concerns, as extreme heat disproportionately affects women, outdoor workers, the elderly, and children. 'Heatwaves are transboundary and systemic risks, particularly for densely populated urban areas", stressed Dr Mishra, urging the international community to enhance technological collaboration, data sharing, and joint research on heat resilience. He called for the Common Framework to provide accessible knowledge, research, and practical solutions, alongside institutional and financial support mechanisms. Mishra reaffirmed India's commitment to sharing its expertise, technical capabilities, and institutional strengths with global partners to foster a resilient, coordinated, and proactive global response to extreme heat. First Published: June 07, 2025, 15:13 IST
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
India takes the lead in tackling extreme heat risks, says PM's Principal Secretary at UN meet
NEW DELHI: India has adopted a proactive and forward-looking approach to managing the rising risks of extreme heat, said Dr P K Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, during a special session on Extreme Heat Risk Governance in Geneva on Friday. Delivering the keynote speech, Dr Mishra highlighted that rising temperatures now pose serious risks to public health, economic stability, and the environment. He welcomed the UNDRR's Common Framework for Extreme Heat Risk Governance, calling it a much-needed platform for global learning, guidance, and collaboration. He stressed that India has moved beyond just responding to disasters and is now focused on preparedness and long-term mitigation. 'Since 2016, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued national guidelines on heatwave management, revised in 2019. These laid the groundwork for decentralised Heat Action Plans (HAPs),' he said. Dr Mishra also echoed the UN Secretary-General's call to treat extreme heat as a global crisis. He pointed to the pioneering Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan as an example of how early warnings, coordination among agencies, and community outreach can save lives. 'Over 250 cities and districts across 23 heat-prone states in India now have operational Heat Action Plans,' he added. These are supported by NDMA through advice, technical tools, and institutional support. Efforts like heat surveillance, hospital readiness, and awareness campaigns have led to a significant drop in heat-related deaths.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Griffith University grants Rs 1.2 crore to researcher from Andhra Pradesh to study climate change
1 2 3 Vijayawada: A young research scholar from Andhra Pradesh clinched a prestigious research project from Australia's Griffith University to take an in-depth study to handle the extreme heat in the state. The findings of the research led by NV Sarath Chandra will aim to contribute to improving public health policies and public healthcare systems (PHCs to tertiary hospitals) in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Griffith university granted a massive Rs 1.2 crore to take up the research in AP. This is considered to be the highest amount to be granted by any foreign university to take up a research project in AP. Sarath felt that the increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves, driven by human-induced climate change, are posing significant public health challenges globally. In India, extreme heat has emerged as a leading cause of premature mortality linked to natural disasters. " Heat Health Action Plans (HHAPs) are vital policy tools designed to enhance preparedness, strengthen response mechanisms, and mitigate the health impacts of extreme heat. Effective HHAPs require broad coverage and a multisectoral approach, engaging various sectors such as health, urban planning, and disaster management," said Sarath. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo For instance, the Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan, launched in 2013, has been credited with preventing an estimated 1,190 deaths annually. According to WHO framework, a successful HHAP should include eight core components essential for achieving meaningful health outcomes. "Andhra Pradesh public healthcare system needs to play a key role in addressing this problem and extreme heat impacts the socioeconomically vulnerable populations the most," he advocated. After an year of extensive literature review around this topic at the Griffith university, Sarath Chandra has convinced his team of supervisors Dr Shannon Rutherford, Dr Ed Morgan, and Dr Thanya Pathirana to carry out research focused on improving heat action policies and public healthcare systems in AP. "We have selected AP for research as temperatures in the state record as high as 45 degrees Celsius in summers. Extending summer durations stretching several months in a year. The conditions are extremely hot almost 6 months in a year. Heat related mortality is among the highest according to India's national records. Extreme heat does not just result in high number of sunstroke cases, but it is a leading factor for several chronic and sudden health ailments," observed Sarath Chandra. He said that the state also has highest levels of humidity due to its coastal influence making conditions more vulnerable.
