In his written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu, emphasised the government’s commitment to mitigating the UHI effect through multi-pronged strategies.

Urbanisation continues to intensify the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect across Indian cities, driven by factors such as reduced vegetation, heat-retaining construction materials, and heightened energy consumption. Recognising the challenges posed by this phenomenon, the Government of India, in collaboration with Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and State authorities, has undertaken several initiatives to mitigate its impact.

This information was provided by Tokhan Sahu, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, in written reply to a question on the subject in the Rajya Sabha.

The UHI effect, a by-product of rapid urbanisation, increases local temperatures in urban areas compared to surrounding rural regions, exacerbating the impact of climate change. Efforts to address this issue span urban planning, green space creation, water body rejuvenation, and adoption of sustainable cooling measures.

Green Initiatives Under AMRUT

Under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), green spaces have been prioritized to counteract UHI effects. To date:

• 2,429 park projects, covering 5,044 acres of green spaces, have been developed at a cost of ₹5,044.28 crore under AMRUT.
• Under AMRUT 2.0, 1,729 park projects worth ₹1,027.62 crore have been approved, adding significant urban greenery.
• Additionally, 3,078 water body rejuvenation projects valued at ₹6,159.29 crore have been approved to enhance natural cooling mechanisms.
• These initiatives reflect a concerted effort to increase urban green cover and promote ecological balance in cities.

Policy Frameworks and Guidelines

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has issued several guidelines to support sustainable urban planning:

Addendum to Model Building Bye-Laws (MBBL) – 2016: Issued under the India Cooling Action Plan (2019), these guidelines serve as an advisory for states to incorporate energy-efficient cooling systems in urban designs.

Urban Green Guidelines, 2014: These guidelines provide comprehensive strategies for increasing green spaces and sustainable landscaping in urban areas.

Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) Guidelines: These promote a “Compact and Green City” approach, encouraging the release of land for open and green spaces to mitigate heat island effects.

Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework

Launched in 2019, the Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) evaluates urban climate resilience, focusing on energy efficiency, water management, waste management, and green infrastructure. Key findings from the Cities Readiness Report 3.0 based on CSCAF data include:

• 95 cities have prepared disaster management plans with ward-level hazard and vulnerability assessments.
• 85 cities meet the URDPFI norm of over 12% green cover within municipal boundaries.
• 76 cities have allocated budgets for water body rejuvenation and open area conservation.
• 41 cities are developing or have developed climate action plans.

The minister said that the National Communication (NATCOM) Cell of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has informed that as per the ‘Synthesis report: Climate Change 2023’ of the Assessment Report 6 (AR6) of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human activities, principally through emissions of greenhouse gases, have unequivocally caused global warming, with global surface temperature reaching 1.1°C above 1850-1900 in 2011-2020.

The NATCOM Cell has further informed that according to the Third National Communication (TNC) submitted to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2023, the country’s average annual mean temperature during 1901-2022 shows an increasing trend of 0.64°C in every 100 years.

These initiatives underscore the importance of climate-resilient urban governance in addressing the UHI effect.

Scientific Evidence and Global Context

According to the IPCC Synthesis Report 2023 (AR6), global warming has unequivocally been caused by human activities, with global temperatures rising by 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels between 2011-2020. For India, data from the Third National Communication (TNC) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) shows an increasing trend of 0.64°C per 100 years in average annual mean temperatures from 1901-2022.

This warming trend, compounded by urbanization, has made Indian cities particularly vulnerable to heat stress and other climate-related impacts.

Future Outlook

In his written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu, emphasised the government’s commitment to mitigating the UHI effect through multi-pronged strategies. From enhancing green infrastructure to implementing climate-smart frameworks, these initiatives aim to create sustainable and livable urban spaces.

While significant progress has been made, continued collaboration between local bodies, state governments, and national agencies is essential to ensure Indian cities are equipped to combat the challenges posed by climate change and urban heat islands.