Representative image
Credit: PTI Photo
Bengaluru: Days after the Lancet Countdown report stated that India lost $373 million worth of labour capacity in 2024 due to heat stress, three Indian cities -- Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Mumbai -- joined a global coalition of 33 cities to address extreme heat.
The Cool Cities Accelerator programme was announced on the first day of the C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
The initiative brings together 33 founding cities from every region of the world, including Austin, Boston, Buenos Aires, Freetown, London, Nairobi, Phoenix, Paris, Singapore and others.
The programme will provide a science-based practical framework for cities to take immediate and long-term action. From early warning systems to improving building standards and expanding tree cover, the programme seeks to improve conditions in the next five years.
Deaths caused by extreme heat are preventable. They occur when individuals, elderly, workers and other vulnerable persons are not adequately protected during periods of heatwaves.
In a press release, C40 Cities Executive Director Mark Watts noted that extreme heat was a silent killer.
“The number of days that major capitals experience temperatures above 35°C has increased 54% over the past twenty years. By aligning with the UN Secretary-General’s call to action on extreme heat, these cities are helping to set a global standard for what bold, collective climate leadership looks like," he said, referring to the 33 cities in the programme.