Summer 2025 is expected to be as severe if not more than last year. Have heat action plans kicked in? 

In 2024, the first heatwave hit east and south India on April 5. This year’s first heatwave hit Mumbai in Feb. Last year was the hottest year on record; 2025 is expected to set a new record for longer, more frequent and more intense heatwaves. It’s estimated that extreme heat could impact over 70% of India’s land area in a few decades. April-June is peak heat, but it’s the wet bulb phenomenon that ensures high power demand till Sept. Add to that poorly designed cityscapes that create urban heat islands. Heatwaves majorly drive the spike in demand for cooling �70% of which is met via fossil fuel generation to run the 10mn-15mn new ACs India adds annually. A World Bank wonk noted India is set to become world’s largest market for ACs �that by 2037, “every 15 seconds, an air conditioner will be sold in India.�Yet, a telling data point: AC penetration in India is just 8%. This fact demands pause.

Are we prepared? On the one hand, there’s the power demand �April-Sept 2024 was 6.1% higher than 2023; April to June 2024 demand rose by 10.4% �a third of the rise from increased use of air conditioning. Parliament was told domestic coal stock stood at 53.2MT (as of March 18), sufficient for 20 days for a power plant to run. Per GOI, India’s prepared to meet summer 2025 peak power demand of 270GW, up from 250GW met in 2024.

On the other hand, what about the remaining 90% of households, their livestock and pets? It is hoped heat action plans in 23 states have rolled out �from regular clean-water supply, to providing roadside shade & shelter, tweaking work hours, ensuring no loss of livelihood, providing protection from heat strokes to quick attention to myriad heat-related conditions. This is especially needed for those who work outdoors: from gig workers to airport ground staff and traffic cops, vendors and street dwellers. Summer’s a bruising battle.

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This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.

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