India is often considered to be one of the hottest countries in Asia. And according to a bombshell study conducted by Oxford University, South Asia is home to more than 95% of the world’s highest heat risk cities.
India Heatwave Update: Findings of the Study
Oxford University recently conducted a study which ranked 205 cities from across the world on the basis of how prepared for the heat they are. Parameters include not just heat exposure but also other connected factors.
“Heat risk in cities is not solely determined by temperature extremes but by the combined effects of environmental conditions, including humidity, mean radiant temperature, wind speed, socio-demographic vulnerability and system-level capacity to cope”, the study’s authors explained.
Only cities with a population of more than 1 million were considered for the survey. And the Al Basrah city from Iraq came first with India’s Ahmedabad at a close second. The list was dominated by cities from Asia and Africa, although some Latin American cities also popped up.
What are Heat Risk Cities?
You might be wondering – what does the term ‘Heat Risk Cities’ exactly mean? In simple words, it refers to metropolitan cities that are vulnerable to extreme temperatures during heatwaves due to the high heat exposure, population vulnerability, and weak infrastructure coping capacities.
According to Oxford University, which published the study in its ‘Sustainable Cities and Society’ journal, the 3 pillars of heat risk cities are meteorological exposure, population vulnerability and adaptive coping cities. Then these 3 pillars are used to calculate the score for each city.
India Heatwave Update: List of Indian Heat Risk Cities
The 14 Indian cities listed by Oxford University for high heat risk include:
-
Ahmedabad
-
Nagpur
-
Madurai
-
Bhopal
-
Kanpur
-
Pune
-
Patna
-
Hyderabad
-
Bangalore
-
Kolkata
-
Jaipur
-
Lucknow
-
Mumbai
-
Chennai
India Heatwave Update: Measures to Combat Heat Risk
Even though the report by Oxford University might worry some in India, the heat risk of a city can easily be mitigated with the right preparative measures.
The study recommends looking for alternatives apart from energy-driven coolants like air conditioners as they eventually contribute to global warming. It also urged people to reduce exposure, address socioeconomic vulnerability, and invest in infrastructure to combat rising global temperatures.
