New Delhi | May 7, 2025 — As India continues to face the growing intensity and frequency of heatwaves driven by climate change, ADRA India, in partnership with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), co-organised a National Consultation on Anticipatory Action for Heatwaves and Their Impact on Communities at Risk. The consultation was hosted at the NDMA office in New Delhi and brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to deliberate on solutions for one of the country’s most pressing climate threats.
The consultation convened representatives from government agencies, urban planners, public health professionals, civil society organisations, and, importantly, voices from gig and informal worker communities who are among the most exposed to extreme heat. The dialogue focused on understanding the lived realities of communities facing prolonged and extreme heat conditions, particularly in densely populated urban and peri-urban areas.
India has witnessed a steady rise in heatwave events over the last decade, with severe implications for public health, livelihoods, and food and water security. For vulnerable populations, especially outdoor workers, informal labourers, children, and the elderly, extreme heat is not only a seasonal challenge but a growing risk to survival and well-being. Against this backdrop, the consultation emphasised the urgent need to shift from reactive responses to anticipatory and preventive action.
Key discussions highlighted how extreme heat directly affects everyday life at the community level. Participants spoke about food and water spoilage, increased health vulnerabilities, reduced work hours and incomes for outdoor workers, and the widespread lack of shade and rest points in urban hotspots. These factors compound existing social and economic vulnerabilities, making heatwaves a multidimensional humanitarian risk rather than a standalone weather event.
The consultation also examined the strain that heatwaves place on urban infrastructure and public health systems. A major focus of the consultation was the role of anticipatory action in reducing heat-related risks before emergencies escalate. Participants explored practical, community-centred solutions that could be implemented ahead of peak heat periods to protect the most vulnerable.
Key Solutions Discussed:
- Development of localised early warning systems that provide timely, actionable heat alerts at the community level.
- Establishment of cool zones in public spaces to offer immediate relief for outdoor workers and residents in high-risk areas.
- Creation of child-friendly safe spaces in urban hotspots to protect children from prolonged heat exposure during school vacations and peak summer hours.
These interventions were emphasised as critical components of a broader heat resilience strategy that integrates community participation, local governance, and scientific early warning mechanisms.
Key Outcomes and Next Steps:
The consultation concluded with a shared commitment to advance coordinated national and community-level action on heat resilience through the following next steps:
- Piloting community-level interventions in high-risk urban and peri-urban locations to test scalable heat mitigation solutions.
- Launching a national behavioural change campaign to promote heat-safe practices, hydration, adaptive work schedules, and early care-seeking behaviours.
- Integrating heat resilience into public infrastructure and systems, including urban planning, housing, transport, and health services.
The consultation reaffirmed that addressing extreme heat requires a whole-of-society approach, involving multiple sectors and levels of governance. Strengthening coordination between national authorities, civil society, urban planners, and community groups was highlighted as central to building long-term heat resilience.
With climate change expected to further intensify heat-related risks across India, anticipatory action offers a pathway to reduce loss of life, safeguard livelihoods, and protect public health before emergencies strike. By focusing on prevention, preparedness, and community-driven solutions, such initiatives move beyond short-term relief toward sustainable climate adaptation.
This National Consultation marked an important milestone in advancing collaborative, forward-looking strategies to protect India’s most vulnerable populations from the escalating risks of extreme heat, while reinforcing the critical role of anticipatory action in the country’s disaster risk reduction framework.