Latest news with #UrbanHeatIsland
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
At 2,507 MW, Kol power demand peaked on Thurs night
Kolkata: The city witnessed an early and intense increase in cooling demand, driven by the worsening Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. On April 24, Kolkata's energy needs peaked, a full two months earlier than last year. According to West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL), the state's energy demand soared to 10,090 MW late on Thursday night, while CESC, Kolkata's main power utility, saw a peak of 2,507 MW. The soaring demand coincided with maximum temperature reaching 35.4°C and relative humidity climbing to 89%, drastically narrowing the gap between day and night temperatures. This intense combination of heat and moisture has sparked concern over wet-bulb temperatures — a measure that accounts for both heat and humidity, and indicates the risk of heat stress on the body. Experts warn that a wet-bulb temperature of 35°C and relative humidity beyond 75% is considered critical, beyond which even healthy individuals can survive for only a few hours. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata A report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) underscores the dangers of Kolkata's rising energy consumption. It warns that without rapid adoption of energy-efficient cooling technologies , the increased demand for air-conditioning and cooling will escalate greenhouse gas emissions, compounding the already critical urban heat problem. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Co-Founder of Google Brain, Andrew Ng, Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Kolkata's situation mirrors a national trend. In Delhi, the summer of 2024 recorded nearly 40 consecutive days above 40°C, pushing cooling infrastructure to its limits. The India Cooling Action Plan (2019) aimed to reduce cooling demand by 20%-25% by 2037-38, but the relentless pace of climate change and urbanisation has made achieving this goal challenging. Natural solutions, like restoring urban water bodies, are being recognised as vital cooling agents that can help moderate city temperatures. Unchecked urban sprawl and pollution have eroded these natural buffers. Innovative approaches, such as using heat-reflective materials, cool roofs, and permeable pavements, are also crucial to mitigating UHI effects. Replacing conventional heat-trapping surfaces, like asphalt and concrete, can significantly lower surface temperatures. Expanding green cover through rooftop gardens, green walls, and urban forestry initiatives can promote evapotranspiration. The report called for policymakers to tailor heat action plans to regional conditions — while cities like Delhi battle dry heat, coastal hubs like Kolkata and Mumbai must address the deadly combination of heat and high humidity. Building urban resilience will depend on data-driven strategies, sustainable cooling technologies, and climate-sensitive urban planning, the report says.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Construction, decimation of green cover turning Kol into urban heat island: Study
1 2 3 Kolkata: The soaring summer heat is linked to shrinking green cover and rising built-up areas, according to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Summers in Kolkata are becoming increasingly unbearable, not just because of rising mercury but due to the city's rapidly transforming landscape. The report highlights that unchecked urban expansion, shrinking green space and diminishing water bodies are altering the city's natural ability to stay cool, turning it into a heat trap. CSE, a Delhi-based environmental think tank, conducted a study from 2001 to 2023, analysing land surface temperatures and humidity trends across six megacities — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai — and four smaller cities — Chandigarh, Jaipur, Lucknow and Pune. The findings reveal a disturbing trend: urban areas are becoming heat zones, with heatwaves growing more intense. In Kolkata, the study found that the built-up area, which includes concrete infrastructure and roads, rose sharply from 70% in 2001 to 80.1% in 2023. In contrast, green cover, crucial for temperature regulation, slightly declined from 15.2% to 14.5%. Alarmingly, scrubland and barren land, which earlier acted as buffer zones, plummeted from 9.8% to 3.4%, and water bodies reduced by more than half — from 5.1% to 1.9%. These changes are key contributors to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, where densely built-up urban areas retain more heat than their surroundings. With less vegetation and water to moderate temperatures, heat lingers well into the night, increasing public health risks, particularly during summer and monsoon months. What makes Kolkata's heat even more punishing is its high humidity. The CSE report underscores that humidity has become a major driver of urban heat stress, particularly in coastal cities like Kolkata and Mumbai. The Heat Index — a measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity is factored in — has skyrocketed. In cities like Chennai, humidity added nearly 7°C to the perceived temperature. Kolkata, with its already high humidity levels, now frequently crosses thresholds that cause extreme heat stress. CSE's analysis utilised satellite data from Landsat 7 and 8, focusing on the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to assess green cover during India's hottest months — April to June. NDVI readings showed a consistent decline in vegetation, particularly during heatwave periods, correlating directly with the city's rising thermal stress. The reduced green cover means the city has lost its natural heat-mitigation shield, accelerating the impact of climate change at a hyperlocal level. The CSE report makes it clear: India's cities are becoming hotter, wetter, and more dangerous, particularly for vulnerable populations. Without a clear and immediate shift in urban planning — focused on restoring green cover, conserving water bodies, and limiting unplanned construction — the situation is set to worsen.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Austin isn't fully prepared for extreme heat, city report says
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Heat is responsible for more deaths than any other form of extreme weather, but the city of Austin isn't fully prepared to combat it. The information was revealed after a new report was published by the city of Austin's Office of the City Auditor. While the city was found to have made 'significant efforts to build heat resilience,' lack of clear funding and coordination between city departments is holding the city back. These issues are directly impacting much of the city's unhoused population. Between 2018 and 2023, nearly two dozen people experiencing homelessness died as a result of heat exposure, according to Homeless Strategy Officer David Gray. On Thursday, March 27, the city announced a new effort to find solutions for heat. The city's Office of Climate Action and Resilience and Homeless Strategy Office were awarded a $70,000 grant by C40 Cities. The funds will be used for two projects. 'We're working really closely with an organization called Urban Alchemy. They help community members in downtown and in the area experiencing homelessness, and what we want to do is work with them to, one, try out some kind of intervention, like a misting tent or bottled water or something, and then ask people, like, is it working? What's not working?' said Marc Coudert with the Office of Climate Action and Resilience. The second part of the project includes surveying people experiencing homelessness to determine their needs and what they think works. 'Then on our side, we're working closely with Austin Public Health, Homeless Strategy Office and other departments, who can sort of use that information to better make decisions around heat mitigation and heat safety,' Coudert said. While these funds could help mitigate some of the issues the city is facing, they're just a drop in the bucket. One example given in the city auditor's report focused on an inventory of the city's trees. Tree canopies can help reduce heat and the phenomenon known as the Urban Heat Island effect. In 2024, the city council noted a need for this inventory. City staff determined that inventory would cost around $10 million. Those funds have not yet been provided, according to the report. The report uses a tool developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to determine a city's readiness. Cities are rated from levels one to five. Austin was ranked between a level three and a level four on the scale. This means the city has 'guidance or regulations' in place to improve a city's infrastructure and plans in place to expand natural resources. The city has several plans in place, including a Heat Resilience Playbook and the Climate Equity Plan, however, the report found these plans lack concrete steps for implementation or measurable targets. Without these, the report said, 'the City may not be able to effectively monitor or evaluate its extreme heat resilience-related efforts.' The report found some funds exist for programs, but funding isn't always directly tied to heat resilience efforts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
