Integrating heatwave management into climate risk strategies in India

Context

Natural disasters caused global economic losses of 380 billion US dollars in 2023, underscoring the growing risk posed by climate change. India is experiencing increasingly frequent and severe heatwaves. These events disrupt public health systems, threaten food security, and strain power grids.

Projections indicate that by 2050, heatwaves could affect 300 million people in India and reduce the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2.8 per cent. Although the Government of India has introduced mitigation measures and forecasting tools, significant gaps remain; essential in integrating heatwave management into broader climate risk strategies. Innovative financial instruments are urgently needed to protect vulnerable communities from cascading impacts.

Objective

Public and private initiatives have improved the climate-friendly management of natural resources, reduced heatwave-related risks, and increased productivity and livelihoods in targeted areas.

Approach

The project supports the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to integrate heatwave mitigation into broader risk management strategies through policy development and practical measures.

It focuses on:

• Facilitating national and international exchanges on innovative approaches to mitigate heatwave impacts.
• Supporting authorities and institutions in applying technical solutions, including financial tools, to address heatwave challenges.
• Promoting gender-sensitive and community-based approaches in collaboration with the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) to enhance resilience against heatwave risks.

Last update: February 2025