CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: The Global Heat & Cooling Forum, organized in partnership with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Department of Science and Technology (DST) and The World Bank Group by the NRDC, concluded today in New Delhi after two days of solution-driven deliberations, discussions on partnership opportunities, and sharing commitments to build climate-resilient communities and to accelerate sustainable cooling solutions. The Forum brought together government officials at the national and state level, policymakers, academics, climate practitioners, civil society and media to address the tackling of extreme heat and sustainable cooling as interconnected issues.
Addressing the forum in his Keynote address, Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Hon’ble Minister of State for Rural Development and Communication, said, “Heat is not just a climate issue. It is a humanitarian crisis. Promoting energy efficient cooling systems and prioritizing vulnerable communities will enable India to build a cooler, more sustainable and resilient future.” The minister highlighted the importance of embracing both innovation and traditional knowledge systems, such as millet farming, water tanks, and clay homes, which have enabled rural communities to adapt to extreme heat. “Our policies must learn from these practices to create scalable, equitable solutions for a warming world,” he added.
Recognizing India’s diverse climatic contexts and increasing vulnerability to extreme heat, the forum centered on three strategic pillars: driving scalability of sustainable heat and cooling solutions, ensuring equitable access to thermal comfort for all and protecting communities from extreme heat. With India and the world facing increasing extreme heat events and growing cooling demands, the Forum served as a crucial platform for multi-stakeholder collaboration in aligning policy, technology, and financing to drive equitable climate-resilient solutions.
Speaking at the event, Abhas Jha, Practice Manager, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, South Asia Region, The World Bank, said, “India’s heat burden will triple over this decade, even in a moderate heat scenario, as underlined by rising heatwaves and temperatures year-on-year. This is exacerbated by the high climate cost of cooling. India’s response, in the form of the India Cooling Action Plan and Heat Action Plans, is commendable. However, we now must prioritize proactive, preventive and multisectoral solutions to addressing heating more equitably.”
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