Summer has arrived early in several parts of India. In the last week of February, heatwaves were officially reported in Goa and Maharashtra. States such as Odisha, Telangana, and Maharashtra have already recorded temperatures exceeding 40°C. Throughout most of February, 31 States and Union Territories experienced night temperatures at least 1°C above normal, with 22 States and Union Territories reporting night temperatures that were 3°C to 5°C above normal. Given that February is classified as ‘winter’ by the India Meteorological Department, these are signposts that point toward new climate normals. Scientists have long warned that rising global temperatures — both on land and sea — will result in more intense and frequent heatwaves. This underscores the need for countries and States to prepare for heat events just as they do for earthquakes or floods. However, a recent study by the Sustainable Futures Collaborative, which examined heat-related preparedness in nine Indian cities, found that none had long-term plans in place. Most responses are limited to short-term emergency measures such as providing drinking water, adjusting work hours, and boosting hospital capacity during heatwaves. Crucial long-term interventions such as ensuring access to household or occupational cooling for vulnerable populations, insuring workers against lost income on extremely hot days, improving fire management, and upgrading electricity grids for reliability are missing. Few cities have even begun planning for expanded local weather monitoring, mapping urban heat islands, or training those responsible for implementing heat plans. Other strategies, which include increasing green cover, creating open spaces to reduce heat, and deploying rooftop solar for active cooling, are often carried out without targeting the populations that are most at risk.

While global efforts to combat climate change largely focus on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, the limited progress on that front is shifting attention to adaptation — particularly in managing responses to heat. Affordable cooling devices are frequently recommended, but they raise concerns about increased use of ozone-depleting refrigerants. Experts now advocate having sustainable buildings, green infrastructure, and passive cooling solutions, although these too can impact land prices and urban planning. India must develop a comprehensive national heat strategy and embed it within its National Adaptation Plan ahead of the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil in November.