As cities grow unbearably hot, UNEP chief backs passive cooling over ACs as smarter fix

Indias cities are growing unbearable each summer and it is the most vulnerable the informal workers the elderly pregnant women and infants who suffer the worst of it confined to concrete urban pockets where temperatures run several degrees higher than surrounding areasAmong them the informal workforce occupies a particularly vulnerable position powering nearly half the nations economy and accounting for an estimated 45 to 50 per cent of Indias GDP while remaining the most heatexposedIn an exclusive interview with PTI Videos on World Environment Day United Nations Environment Programme UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen noted that the situation is deeply concerning particularly for those who work outdoors doing physical labour and for the most vulnerable like the elderly pregnant women infants and those living with other illnessesShe further said construction workers street vendors agricultural labourers and others in physically demanding outdoor occupations are particularly at risk as extreme heat also threatens their livelihoodsRight now heat stress kills more people every year than floods storms and wildfires combined If we focus for a moment just on workers we are talking about approximately 24 billion people roughly 70 per cent of the global workforce who are likely exposed to dangerous heatIn India that includes around 82 per cent of the informal workforce Andersen told PTI adding that it is a global challenge that demands a comprehensive responseNew Delhi is one of the hottest major cities on the planet With humidity factored in temperatures have been approaching 50 degrees which is beyond livable she saidOutlining the dimensions of a comprehensive response that must be taken seriously the UNEP Chief cited measures such as Heat Action Plans HAPs cooling centres access to adequate water early warning systems shaded rest areas cool roofs in informal settlements and adjusted work hours during peak heatAmong these passive cooling emerges as one of the most underrated approaches It includes cool roofs green roofs reflective windows and other design choices that are often framed only as climate solutions but also work as a public health intervention hiding in plain sightWhat is encouraging is that we are beginning to see meaningful investments in this space From UNEPs side we are proud to lead what we call the Cool Coalition India for instance is putting one and a half billion dollars from its National Disaster Mitigation Fund into redesigning and reallocating resources for passive cooling Andersen told PTIDrawing a comparison between walking through a countryside field and walking through a concrete urban setting Andersen said cities need to be fundamentally rethought around coolingShe cited the example of the Kashmir Gate Interstate Bus Terminal in Delhi where a cool roof is being installed that will cover nearly 150000 square feet and bring down temperatures for around one lakh commuters dailyIndias flagship Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban scheme is also investing in passive cooling for approximately ten million homes by 2029 she addedPassive cooling encompasses green roofs reflective roofs more trees where possible smart buildings and smart glazing which can bring down temperatures and in turn reduce the cost of cooling and lower electricity billsThe UN official said that passive cooling through thoughtful wall and roof design glazing shading ventilation and the creation of green and blue spaces is how costs can be brought down more affordably than relying on expensive energyintensive air conditionersBeat the Heat or Mutirao contra o Calor Extremo is an international effort launched by the Brazil COP30 Presidency and the UNEPled Cool Coalition to accelerate the deployment of sustainable cooling and heat resilience solutions in cities worldwide turning the ambitions of the Global Cooling Pledge into ontheground action according to the UNEPMore than 230 cities across over 40 countries and 108 partner organisations have joined the initiative including 44 Indian cities of which 30 are from Maharashtra and 11 from Tamil NaduWhen asked if the current pace of heat adaptation in India is commensurate with the speed at which heat risk is growing Andersen said It is a catchup process but we are very glad to see 44 cities enrolled in Beat the Heat initiative and the government stepping into this space to leadThe reality however remains stark across the world more than one billion people lack adequate cooling including many in IndiaIf we do not act that number will rise from one billion to three billion by 2050 as temperatures continue to climb she addedShe underscored that urban heat is intense and the poor face the heaviest exposure as local temperatures in cities can be more than ten degrees higher than in rural areas where a breeze and natural habitat help with coolingHas India caught up No but then no one has What we need to see is consistent steady investment in the cooling aspect especially in urban settings alongside a very proactive effort to address CO2 emissions and greenhouse gases because ultimately that is how we keep global temperature rise within a livable range the UNEP chief told PTIShe further mentioned that 74 countries have pledged to reduce global coolingrelated emissions by 68 per cent by 2050 and 134 out of 193 countries have integrated cooling into their Nationally Determined Contributions NDCsOn parametric insurance as a safety net Andersen said rolling out such systems is critical for worker protection and reducing heat fatalities adding that while not all countries can afford it protecting the workforce ultimately means protecting longterm productivity and human capitalThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever