The era of ‘global boiling’

The start of October brought some relief to the scorching humid heat in the northern plains in India. The mercury climbed down a bit and the mornings and evenings became noticeably cooler.

It started in December 2022, when we witnessed the hottest December in 122 years. Then February 2023, was the hottest February since 1901, the year when the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) started collecting data! And since April 2023, India is witnessing a record heat wave. It is not just India, cities across Asia, Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, and the U.S. have seen spikes in temperatures that have been unprecedented. As the UN Secretary General warned in July, the era of global warming is over and the era of ‘global boiling’ has begun.

The world today is on average around 1.2% warmer than the pre-industrial age. Many reasons are cited for the extreme heat conditions in the Northern hemisphere during the last few years. Human activity has led to an increase in greenhouse gases, ocean currents like the El Nino, and warmer waters in the Southern Hemisphere, etc.

Science tells us that climate change plays a major role in the increased occurrence and intensity of these heat waves.

Whatever be the cause, for us who have to survive the heat onslaughts, adaptation is of utmost importance. Unbearable heat kills crops and livestock, but the extreme heat is drawing attention currently because it is impacting human health in cities where millions of people live.

Many cities are also plagued by poor air quality, which coupled with extreme heat, stretches the hearts and lungs. The vulnerable, marginalized and those who must go outside to earn a daily wage, such as street vendors, construction and farm workers, delivery agents and traffic police are the ones who are most affected.

As per experts, rising temperatures affect the pattern of transmission of disease agents like viruses as well their vectors. It is thought that changes in climate could also result in the shift of habitat for species, thereby introducing new vectors to some areas.

The prediction is that severe heat waves are going to be the norm, and cities need to adapt and build capacity to tackle heat stress. In India, about 37 Heat Action Plans (HAP) exist.

In 2016, the National Disaster Management Authority of India set out guidelines for the same. Heat Action Plans are documents that list preparatory, adaptive and responsive measures for the government to tackle the heat and its impacts. Ahmedabad was the first city in South Asia to implement a HAP in 2013.

Local authorities can take various steps like sending out heat warning messages, ensure proper functioning of energy and water systems, create community cooling centers, particularly in areas with low-income, elderly, and young populations, reschedule working hours for daily wage laborers, provide drinking water and first aid facilities at temporary working areas, and changing school timings. These steps when well implemented have been reported to reduce mortality due to heat.

Adaptation to the extreme heat would also need long term preparedness. This would include, identifying people and areas that are at greatest risk, deciding where to plant trees, using white or cool roofs, cool pavement and building materials. Cool materials include materials that reflect more solar energy, enhance water evaporation, or have been otherwise modified to remain cooler than conventional materials.