Roadmap for planning heatwave management in India

This National Roadmap is an opportunity for the national, subnational and local leaders to prepare for heatwave planning processes in India. The accumulation of cases and experiences in this report provides reassurance that others around the world are facing similar challenges and adopting various approaches towards climate compatible development for cities.The process of mapping the pathway has been inclusive and participatory, and is intended to meet the needs of local leadership and support a national approach to mitigating and adapting to changing temperatures and extreme heat by embedding actions in day-to-day life. 

This report presents available best expertise as well as recent rapidly evolving experience and learning of managing heatwaves in Indian cities, including four key strategies:

• Building public awareness on risk of heatwaves through mass outreach programme in local language;
• Implementing response system to prevent heat-related death and illness at the onset;
• Initiating an early warning system (EWS) and inter-agency collaboration framework to alert citizens on predicted extreme temperature; and
• Capacity building among city officials and healthcare professionals to recognize and respond to heat-related illnesses.