Heat a global crisis; India has incorporated traditional wisdom and local experiences, says PK Mishra

Dr. P.K. Mishra emphasizes the urgent need to address extreme heat as a global crisis, highlighting India's integrated approach combining traditional wisdom and modern strategies under PM Modi's leadership.

Urgent need to address extreme heat as a global crisis

Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi

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Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, has called for immediate global attention to the growing threat of extreme heat, aligning with the concerns raised by the UN Secretary-General. 

Speaking at a high-level Special Session on Extreme Heat Risk Governance held in Geneva on Friday, Dr. Mishra highlighted the far-reaching impact of soaring temperatures on human health, economic systems, and environmental sustainability. He reaffirmed India’s strong support for the UNDRR’s efforts to develop a unified global framework, aimed at fostering international cooperation, policy alignment, and knowledge exchange to effectively manage heat-related risks.

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. Since 2016, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has developed comprehensive national guidelines on heatwave management, revised in 2019, which laid the foundation for decentralized Heat Action Plans (HAPs).

“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.

Dr. Mishra highlighted that, “Extreme heat deeply impacts communities, and India has actively incorporated traditional wisdom and local experiences into its response.”

 

 

Outlining India’s transition from a preparedness-only approach to long-term heatwave mitigation, including cool roof technologies, passive cooling centers, urban greening, and the revival of traditional water bodies, Mishra affirmed that India is integrating Urban Heat Island (UHI) assessments into city planning.

Dr. Mishra announced a major policy shift, stating that National and State Disaster Mitigation Funds (SDMF) can now be used for heatwave mitigation, allowing local governments, private sector entities, NGOs, and individuals to co-finance prevention and mitigation projects, fostering shared responsibility.

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