More Reliance on Renewable Energy Sources to Beat the Heatwaves This Summer

India is witnessing one of the worst summers this year. March 2022 was India’s hottest ever March in the last century. The impact of climate change is strongly evident in the form of tremendous heatwaves in the country this year. Also, rising surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean and the EI-Nino effect are held responsible for heatwaves in India. India saw maximum temperatures in many parts. Not only are these heatwaves reducing people’s productivity and taking a toll on lives, but are also affecting agriculture, water as well as energy supplies, and having other socio-economic impacts. The hotter the summer the more electricity consumption and blackouts affect the overall industrial production. The high demand for cooling has led to a power shortage in the country.

Hence it is important to reconsider the electric mix in India with more reliance on renewable sources such as wind and solar and a departure from the dirty coal. Also, read Developed Market Companies face Climate Change pressure from Empowered Environmental Activists.

The number of heatwave days observed in India has increased to 600 over 2011-2020 from ~400 in the period 1981-1990. As such it has become imperative to prepare mitigation plans at various state levels in India. Ahmedabad was the first to prepare its first Heat Action Plan in 2013 at the regional level. The plan seeks to mitigate and adapt to extreme weather-related shocks including raising public awareness, providing heat-proof shelter facilities, afforestation, access to drinking water, etc. It is important to create a comprehensive disaster management plan to safeguard our communities. India is the third-largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world today.  The country has also established a national-level framework for heat action plans through the National Disaster Management Authority.

We were just emerging out of the worst COVID crisis in the last quarter when India was hit hard by a sudden rise in temperatures that affected several of its wheat-producing states. This further impacted wheat exports by the country. The conditions are going to further worsen due to continued deforestation, rapid urbanization, changes in lifestyle, and higher carbon emission levels.

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