India’s Scorching Reality: A Heatwave Hotter Than the Desert!

Our country is burning, literally. Which means, right now, at this very moment, India is hotter than Saudi Arabia, Oman, Sudan, and many other African countries.

Global Temperature Map (Credits: Zoom Earth)

The heat wave is a national emergency. And the summers have just started. This year is anticipated to be India's hottest summer. We can't even imagine what will happen in the month of May. In global perspective, UN has already warned by saying "Era of Global boiling has arrived". That means instead of "Global Warming", "Global Boiling" will be the new buzz word for the upcoming years.

1. The heat is expensive

The Sun's heat makes India poor. It sounds weird to hear, but even today, 75% of India's population, that is, 3 out of 4 people, do physical labour related work. They farm, construct buildings, set up a stall on the roadside and sell some stuff. When does this work happen?...in the afternoon. That is, in scorching heat. Similarly, 75% of India is dependent on unorganized sector Which contributes 1/3rd of our GDP. Due to the heat, productivity drops by 5-10%. We feel dehydrated and due to this we get tired quickly. So, if India can't work because of the heat, how will it progress?

You and I are privileged. We are safe from this heat in our offices So, we face the heat only while traveling. A report by McKinsey says that 20 crore people in India could get affected by the heat wave. The figures say that by 2030, the impact of this productivity loss on GDP will be between 2.5% and 4.5%. That is, $126 billion every year. Our central government spends about 2% of GDP on education every year. That is, if we can save all the losses from the heat wave and allocate all that money saved for education, our education budget can be doubled every year. That is, by avoiding economic losses, that money can be used for good causes.

Now, do you think our leaders don't know all this? Of course, they do. But if the environment becomes our priority, then things can change for good. That is where we see the dream of making India a developed nation by 2047. Those dreams will remain just dreams, because climate change is a reality.

Mr. Sonam Wangchuk, protesting for Environmental Protection

Sonam Wangchuk has been protesting and telling everyone the same, since a very long time, but instead of addressing his protest, his voice is being suppressed using section 144. 

This is a sad reality of our country, which will be our biggest mistake, if we ignore it. Because the climate is quite unbiased. It doesn't matter, if you are left-wing or right-wing. It doesn't matter, which political party do you vote for or which religion you follow. Climate only looks at facts. And the fact is that India is the 3rd most vulnerable country in the world. India will be the 3rd most impacted country due to climate change. More than any rank, this ranking should be given more importance. But wait!!! we do have AC. We think that, since it's hot, we'll turn on the AC. But AC doesn't reduce the heat. AC increases the heat.

Why?

Because AC runs on electricity. And in India, most of the electricity comes from thermal power plants, like coal. Buring them releases carbon and also increase pollution. Let's look at the data from the International Energy Association. In their World Energy Report 2023, there are many interesting insights about the use of AC. In India, 24 out of 100 houses have an AC. In America, 85 out of 100 houses have an AC. And in China's urban areas, almost every house has an AC. By 2050, AC units in use will increase by 9 times. In fact, this report says that by 2050, our power demand for AC will be more than the entire Africa, which is crazy. Using an AC is a short-term solution but in the long term, it’s a problem that can cost us. On 22nd May 2024 India's capital, Delhi recorder its highest-ever power demand, clocked at 8,000 Megawatts. 

2. What are heat waves?

Did you ever sit in a sauna? Or in a room where there is no ventilation. You start sweating. Heat waves form, when a high-pressure situation is created in the area's atmosphere. Due to high pressure in the upper atmosphere, winds get trapped towards the ground. And the heat that the ground reflects, gets trapped. And it can't get out of that area. Winds can't come in this high-pressure area. And the heat also gets trapped. Kind of like a pressure cooker. Heat wave is not a season like summer, winter or rains. Heat wave is a condition. Heat wave is declared only when the temperature goes above a particular limit. As per IMD, For Plains, 5 degrees above main temperature or crosses 40 degrees, in hilly areas, 5 degrees above main temperature or crosses 35 degrees and in coastal areas, 5 degrees above main temperature or crosses 37 degrees is termed as heat wave. Economy is linked to people's productivity. It is connected to happiness. And people's happiness is connected to the temperature.

Let's see an example.

Rank	Country	Region	Average Happiness Score (2021-23)
1	Finland	Europe	7.7
2	Denmark	Europe	7.6
3	Iceland	Europe	7.5
4	Sweeden	Europe	7.3

Finland, which has been the happiest country for last 7 consecutive years. Not just Finland, all Nordic countries, which are cool countries, top the happiness index.

Why?

Because, we have found innovative ways to avoid the cold weather We can wear jackets, make a small fireplace, insulate our homes, so that the cold winds don't come inside. But our cities have not found any solution to beat the heat. India was ranked 126^th out of 146 countries in the World Happiness Report (WHR) index 2024, we all felt bad. Some people asked how valid this happiness index is, but we have to take one step forward. We have to think how the changing environment is affecting our mood, our productivity and our economy. All these things are connected.

According to a study, the temperature of modern buildings is 5 to 7 degrees higher than the old buildings. We must have seen such houses in many big cities where many people cannot afford a roof. So, they put a metal roof. 

Metal roofs in the slums of M-Ward, Mumbai 

37% of Mumbai houses are like this. These metal roofs are one of the main causes of increased temperature. If you look at the map of Mumbai, you can clearly see that the temperature is the lowest around the Aarey forest. 

Relationship between Vegetation Cover and Land Surface Temperature (Location: Arey Forest, Mumbai)

And where the trees are less, the temperature increases. This is called the Urban Heat Island effect. 

In a survey, every ward in Mumbai has been analysed. 

Reletionship between Ward and Vegetation 

And it clearly showed that the ward where the vegetation is less, the temperatures are high there.

Original Work - As the Earth Gets Hotter, Can Our Cities Get Cooler?

3. Solutions

If we have to beat the rising temperatures in India, then we have to stop copying the western ideas blindly. We perfectly learn those things from the west, which we shouldn't; for example, in New York skyline, we see many glass buildings. 

Glass buildings, reflecting sunlight 

Looking at these tall glass buildings, the need to have an office in such buildings to achieve corporate success rises. Thus, the same was copied and followed in India.

Is it really necessary?

In New York, the average temperature in summers is 27 degrees Celsius. And in Mumbai, it is 35 degrees. That means Mumbai is hot, humid, and tropical. And in New York, it snows in winters. But what difference does it make, if there are glass buildings in Mumbai? At the same time, two suns are formed.

This glass building reflects the sunlight creating a double sun effect. That means double light and double heat. Now, in cities like Mumbai, where there are only two seasons, summers and extreme summers. Isn't glass building an unnecessary idea? The people working in glass buildings experience this phenomenon while traveling yet, they don't even realize it. Because copying the west has now become a fashion.

We have a lot to learn from the west and much more to unlearn. If we have to copy, then why can't we copy Singapore? Their climate is similar to ours, who also have the problem of space. 

Vertical garden model of Singapore

And yet, buildings look something like this. There are vertical gardens that make the most of the limited space. 

We need to change our strategy. In our Gurukul system, children were taught to plant 1 peepal tree, 1 tamarind tree, 3 amla trees, and 5 mango trees. A mango tree produces 271 ton of oxygen in its entire lifetime and absorbs 81 ton of carbon. It’s the same amount of carbon which 5 ACs emit if they are used for 1000 hours in summers. Can we plant some trees?

We should. 

4. A Call to Action: Uniting for a Cooler Tomorrow

As we stand at the crossroads of climate crisis and innovation, it is imperative that we harness our collective will to forge a future that is not only sustainable but also resilient against the escalating challenges of global warming. The heatwave scorching India is a clarion call for change—a reminder that our actions today will shape the world of tomorrow. We must look beyond short-term fixes and embrace long-term strategies that align with our cultural heritage and environmental realities. It’s time to revive the wisdom of our ancestors, who understood the value of living in harmony with nature. By planting trees, rethinking urban design, and adopting eco-friendly practices, we can cool our cities and our planet.

Let us not wait for the situation to become dire. Let us act now, with urgency and purpose, to ensure that the dreams of a developed India do not wither under the unforgiving sun. Together, we can turn the tide against the heatwave, safeguard our economy, and secure a happier, cooler future for all. 

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