Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the growing threat of global warming on health, environment and the economy, and outlined India’s response through the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP), now active in over 250 cities.
Key Developments
- ICAP implementation across 250+ cities, focusing on region‑specific cooling solutions.
- Minister emphasized the link between rising temperatures and both communicable (e.g., dengue) and non‑communicable diseases (e.g., cardiovascular ailments).
- Call for responsible use of air conditioning to curb the energy burden.
- Collaboration announced among DST, NDMA, CDRI, and the NRDC.
Important Facts
India’s climatic diversity means simultaneous exposure to extreme heat in the north‑central plains and severe cold in the Himalayan region, necessitating customised cooling strategies rather than a one‑size‑fits‑all model. The Minister noted that heat stress exacerbates disease patterns, increasing vulnerability among people with heart disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions.
Excessive reliance on modern cooling devices has reduced natural heat tolerance, creating a feedback loop where higher temperatures drive greater energy consumption, further aggravating climate change.
UPSC Relevance
The discourse touches upon several GS syllabi: GS3 – Environment & Climate Change (global warming, heat stress, sustainable cooling), GS2 – Polity (policy formulation, inter‑agency coordination), and GS4 – Ethics (equitable access to cooling and responsible consumption). Understanding ICAP helps answer questions on India’s climate‑resilience roadmap and energy‑efficiency measures.
Way Forward
Minister Singh urged immediate, practical steps: set optimal temperature standards for public buildings, promote energy‑efficient cooling technologies, and ensure equitable access to cooling in underserved regions. He called for integrated research linking climate science with public health, and for scaling up collaborative platforms like the Global Heat and Cooling Forum to generate scalable, inclusive solutions.