The Heat Information Hub, spearheaded by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia, was inaugurated in New Delhi on Tuesday in recognition of World Health Day.
This initiative will collaborate with the South Asia Climate and Health Desk to facilitate early warnings related to heat and unite stakeholders at the regional level. Its objectives include promoting the exchange of knowledge and best practices, informing policy decisions, and ultimately aiming to mitigate heat-related risks to human life and property.
During the summer months, India faces severe heatwaves, leading to widespread heat-induced stress across various sectors, which heightens the vulnerability of communities and resources. Research indicates that Asia is experiencing temperature increases at a rate double that of other continents, resulting in a higher incidence of heat-related fatalities.
The 21st century has seen some of the hottest years recorded in India, with 2024, 2016, 2009, 2010, and 2017 marking the peak temperatures. In 2022, India experienced its eighth warmest year, with an average land surface-air temperature of 0.28 degrees Celsius above the long-term average from 1991 to 2020.
This Heat Hub aims to partner with both regional and national entities to provide significant advantages to families, workers, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and municipal officials, starting this summer with alerts related to temperature and heat.
It will recommend safer work hours, issue timely guidance on cooling measures, and enhance policy recommendations for health services.
The hub will closely collaborate with regional offices of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune, working to close the gap between heat forecasts and effective public response.
The Heat Hub is formed through a collaboration involving the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), the Sustainable Futures Collaborative, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health.
In the coming years, the Heat Hub aims to partner with over 60 organizations, train more than 500 professionals, and enhance heat action plans throughout India and South Asia.
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