Development and Implementation of South Asia’s First Heat-Health Action Plan in Ahmedabad (Gujarat, India)

Kim Knowlton, Suhas P. Kulkarni, Gulrez Shah Azhar, Dileep Mavalankar, Anjali Jaiswal, Meredith Connolly, Amruta Nori-Sarma, Ajit Rajiva, Priya Dutta, Bhaskar Deol, Lauren Sanchez, Radhika Khosla, Peter J. Webster, Violeta E. Toma, Perry Sheffield, Jeremy J. Hess and The Ahmedabad Heat and Climate Study Group
Additional contact information
Kim Knowlton: Natural Resources Defense Council, New York, NY 10011, USA
Suhas P. Kulkarni: Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Medical Officer of Health, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380001, India
Gulrez Shah Azhar: Ahmedabad Heat and Climate Study Group, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 380054, India
Dileep Mavalankar: Ahmedabad Heat and Climate Study Group, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 380054, India
Anjali Jaiswal: Natural Resources Defense Council, New York, NY 10011, USA
Meredith Connolly: Natural Resources Defense Council, New York, NY 10011, USA
Amruta Nori-Sarma: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
Ajit Rajiva: Ahmedabad Heat and Climate Study Group, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 380054, India
Priya Dutta: Ahmedabad Heat and Climate Study Group, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 380054, India
Bhaskar Deol: Natural Resources Defense Council, New York, NY 10011, USA
Lauren Sanchez: Natural Resources Defense Council, New York, NY 10011, USA
Radhika Khosla: Natural Resources Defense Council, New York, NY 10011, USA
Peter J. Webster: School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
Violeta E. Toma: School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
Perry Sheffield: Ahmedabad Heat and Climate Study Group, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 380054, India
Jeremy J. Hess: Ahmedabad Heat and Climate Study Group, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 380054, India
The Ahmedabad Heat and Climate Study Group: Ahmedabad Heat and Climate Study Group, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 380054, India

IJERPH, 2014, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-20

Abstract: Recurrent heat waves, already a concern in rapidly growing and urbanizing South Asia, will very likely worsen in a warming world. Coordinated adaptation efforts can reduce heat’s adverse health impacts, however. To address this concern in Ahmedabad (Gujarat, India), a coalition has been formed to develop an evidence-based heat preparedness plan and early warning system. This paper describes the group and initial steps in the plan’s development and implementation. Evidence accumulation included extensive literature review, analysis of local temperature and mortality data, surveys with heat-vulnerable populations, focus groups with health care professionals, and expert consultation. The findings and recommendations were encapsulated in policy briefs for key government agencies, health care professionals, outdoor workers, and slum communities, and synthesized in the heat preparedness plan. A 7-day probabilistic weather forecast was also developed and is used to trigger the plan in advance of dangerous heat waves. The pilot plan was implemented in 2013, and public outreach was done through training workshops, hoardings/billboards, pamphlets, and print advertisements. Evaluation activities and continuous improvement efforts are ongoing, along with plans to explore the program’s scalability to other Indian cities, as Ahmedabad is the first South Asian city to address heat-health threats comprehensively.

Keywords: heat; climate change; India; vulnerability; urban; public health; adaptation; disaster preparedness; temperature forecast; extreme weather; climate events (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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