Tackling heat: Planning to beat the invisible disaster

Extreme heat is no more just a meteorological problem but an institutional challenge and an economic crisis. Policies need to be tweaked to deal with this challenge

- Arunabha Ghosh

In India, the very notion of summer is being rewritten by climate change in 2025, as record-breaking temperatures scorch some regions while unexpected rains unsettle others. But the latest scientific evidence is clear: We are stepping into an era defined by intense and prolonged heat and rising humidity levels. India is no stranger to high temperatures, but something is changing. The heat is lasting longer, arriving earlier, and pushing the limits of human endurance. It's no longer just a meteorological problem but an institutional challenge and an economic crisis. Unlike floods or cyclones, extreme heat leaves no visible trail of destruction. It creeps up on us—through restless nights, breathless afternoons, drained workers, silent hospital admissions, and wilting yields on farms.

The numbers are stark. Across the world, about 2.2 billion children—that's almost every child—will be exposed to frequent heatwaves by 2050. The equivalent of 35 million jobs could be lost in India by 2030 due to heat stress.

But extreme heat has long fallen through the cracks of governance—“no one's baby,” as it is sometimes called in policy circles. Is it the responsibility of health departments? Disaster management? Urban development? Or environmental ministries? We must go beyond the acuteness of heat stress and address the chronic nature of the problem.

The question before us is no longer if we will face heat stress, but whether we are prepared for its cascading and compounding impacts. Three priorities must now define our approach to beating the heat.