Heatwave Preparedness in India

GS-1 Mains Exam

Short Notes or Revision Notes 

Question : Explain the concept of heatwaves and their impact on different regions of India, highlighting the minimum temperature thresholds defined by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)

Heatwave Definition (IMD):

• Varies based on region (plains, coast, hills).
• Minimum thresholds:
  • Plains: 40°C
  • Coast: 37°C
  • Hills: 30°C
• Severity based on departure from normal temperature.

Heat Action Plans (HAPs):

• Developed by state/city governments to manage heatwaves.
• Aim to reduce heatwave impact through preparedness, response, and recovery strategies.
• Developed with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and IMD.
• At least 23 HAPs exist at state/city level, with some states having district-level plans.

Components of a Typical HAP:

• Heat profile: Past heatwave events, temperature trends, land surface temperature.
• Vulnerability assessment: Identify high-risk regions.
• Response plan:
  • Early warning systems for public and authorities.
  • Public education campaigns on heatwave risks.
  • Setting up heat shelters and cooling centers.
  • Providing clean drinking water to prevent dehydration.
  • Equipping hospitals with supplies and trained personnel.
• Long-term measures:
  • Urban planning with tree plantation.
  • Heat-resistant building materials to reduce urban heat island effect.
  • Cool roofing technologies to lower indoor temperatures.

Recommendations for Improvement:

• Expand heatwave definition to include humid heat and warmer nights.
• Develop a heat index considering multiple factors beyond temperature.
• Conduct robust climate risk assessments for heatwave likelihood and exposure.
• Create hotspot maps for targeted interventions using geospatial data.
• Allocate dedicated budgets for HAPs.
• Integrate HAPs with broader urban resilience and climate adaptation plans.

 

Supreme Court Verdict on Climate Change and Great Indian Bustard

GS-2 Mains Exam

Short Notes or Revision Notes 

Question : Discuss the significance of the Supreme Court verdict on climate change and its implications for biodiversity conservation, focusing on the case of the Great Indian Bustard

Context:

• Supreme Court recognized the right to be free from adverse climate impacts.
• Judgment focused on Great Indian Bustard conservation vs. renewable energy development.

The Great Indian Bustard:

• Critically endangered bird in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
• Habitat overlaps with areas of high wind and solar energy potential.
• Public interest litigation sought to halt overhead power line construction due to collision risks.
• Supreme Court imposed a blanket ban on new overhead lines and ordered existing lines undergrounded.

Government’s Argument:

• Overhead power lines crucial for meeting renewable energy goals and reducing carbon emissions.
• Undergrounding impractical due to high cost and technical challenges.
• Bustard decline due to factors like poaching, habitat loss, and predation.

Right to be Free from Climate Impacts:

• Recognized by the Court but not binding as it’s not in the operative judgment.
• Seen as a positive step for climate rights discourse.
• Needs further articulation to be fully effective.

Just Transition Framework:

• Alternative approach gaining traction in climate cases worldwide.
• Aims for equitable and inclusive transitions to a low-carbon economy.
• Prioritizes interests of workers, vulnerable communities, and small businesses.

Advantages of Just Transition Framework:

• Avoids presenting climate action and biodiversity protection as opposing forces.
• Promotes inclusive climate action that respects diverse rights and interests.
• Enables more reflexive and inclusive climate rights.
• Can ensure ecological justice by considering non-human nature’s interests.

Way Forward:

• Opportunity to define the content of the right to be free from climate impacts for inclusivity and effectiveness.
• Shared responsibility for shaping this right:
  • State
  • Activists
  • Litigants
  • Academics (through participation in recognition, articulation, and enforcement)