In the past month, heatwaves have been
declared across India and around the world, affecting millions of people. In
the third week of June, temperatures in Boston soared to match those in Delhi
and Ahmedabad, crossing 40 degrees Celsius. This alarming convergence of heat
underscores a stark reality: global temperatures are rising, and with continued
inaction, parts of the world currently populated will become too hot to
inhabit.
Even more troubling is our lack of precise
knowledge about the true extent of these heatwaves and their impact. We do not
fully understand how prolonged high temperatures will affect the health,
well-being, and livelihoods of millions of people, particularly in India.
Northern India, for instance, has been enduring the longest stretch of
heatwaves in the last 15 years. Temperatures in some states have consistently
remained above 45°C, with relatively cooler states experiencing temperatures
3°-6°C above the norm. Even night temperatures have been unusually high, a
result of near-absence of moisture and rain.
Compounding the heat crisis is the
sluggish monsoon. After an early start, the monsoon has stalled since June 12,
stuck in central India. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) initially
forecasted normal rainfall for June but has since downgraded it to 'below
normal', predicting an 8% shortfall. This update, however, fails to provide
insight into the monsoon's progress. The normal dates for the monsoon's arrival
in northwestern and northern states are between June 25 and July 1. A prolonged
delay could strain the already stressed infrastructure in these states.
It is high time that politics be set aside
and the prolonged summer be holistically addressed by the Centre and States as
a natural disaster. Sustainable solutions to make our habitats more bearable in
the medium term require a bold reimagining of how we build and organize our
communities. However, there is an urgent need to identify and protect the most
vulnerable populations immediately. We must not shy away from simple,
achievable solutions in pursuit of the unattainable.
Heat is but one facet of climate change.
Heavy rains, cyclones, floods, unseasonal rains, and crop failures will also
drive forced population displacement. Despite overwhelming evidence pointing to
impending disaster, data and knowledge that could help at local scales remain
scarce. We cannot plan effectively if we do not have accurate information.
Strategies that downscale data and knowledge to empower local communities to
prepare, innovate, test, and validate adaptation practices are essential. This
approach offers a sustainable path to justly address the challenges ahead.
The time for complacency has long passed.
We must act now to mitigate the heat crisis and its broader implications,
ensuring that future generations do not inherit a world that is too hot to live
in.
