The Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that extreme heat events will grow with increasing global warming and that every increment of warming matters. The diurnal temperature range (DTR) – the variation between high air temperature and low temperature during a single day – is also changing. From an urban perspective, the combined effects of warming and urbanisation will cause a significant increase in the number of people at risk of extreme heat. In addition, we also need to consider innovative strategies to combat extreme heat, such as emergency cooling centres (similar to the ones in Toronto and Paris); survival guides that are strategically displayed to survive extreme heat or heat waves (like in Athens); white roofs (Los Angeles); green rooftops (Rotterdam); self-shading tower blocks (Abu Dhabi); and green corridors (Medellin). But most of all, it is crucial we prepare district-level heat hotspot maps so that different departments of a State and/or district can design long-term measures to reduce deaths due to extreme heat.

Source: The Hindu March 07, 2023 02:54 UTC