The Economics of Cooling
Heat Action Plans
How Indian cities and states prepare for heatwaves with warnings, cooling centres and work schedule changes, and the evidence on whether these plans save lives.
Heatwaves can kill. After a severe heatwave in 2010 caused many deaths in Ahmedabad, the city developed South Asia’s first Heat Action Plan in 2013.
What heat action plans include
- Early warnings based on weather forecasts, with colour-coded alerts.
- Public awareness: advice on staying hydrated and avoiding the sun.
- Cooling centres and drinking water points.
- Hospital preparedness for heatstroke cases.
- Changes to work hours for outdoor workers.
- Cool roofs and shading.
Spread across India
After Ahmedabad, many cities and states adopted heat action plans, supported by the National Disaster Management Authority, which issued national guidelines.
Evidence
Studies of Ahmedabad’s plan suggested it helped reduce heat-related deaths in years after it began.
Challenges
- Implementation varies widely between cities.
- Funding is often limited.
- Vulnerable groups, like outdoor workers, the elderly and slum residents, need targeted help.
- Heat isn’t always recognised as a disaster, affecting relief funding.
Economic case
Heat action plans are relatively cheap compared with the costs of deaths, illness and lost productivity.
When the forecast shows temperatures above 45 degrees, a city issues a red alert. Water points open at bus stops, construction work pauses in the afternoon, and hospitals prepare heatstroke wards.
Heatwaves cause deaths and illness, especially among vulnerable people.
- Ahmedabad created South Asia's first Heat Action Plan in 2013.
- Plans include early warnings, cooling centres and adjusted work hours.
- Studies suggest Ahmedabad's plan reduced heat deaths.
- Implementation and funding vary; vulnerable groups need targeting.
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