Extreme heatwaves are emerging as a growing public health challenge across urban India, disproportionately affecting the urban poor, outdoor workers and vulnerable populations. Experts from public health, climate science and urban planning are increasingly calling for passive cooling to be recognised not just as a building design choice but as a critical public health intervention. The approach focuses on reducing indoor and outdoor heat exposure through low-energy or zero-energy methods integrated into housing and public infrastructure.

According to Benjamin Hickman, Programme Manager at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in India, passive cooling measures such as cool roofs can significantly reduce heat absorption in low-income settlements. He noted that these systems work best when combined with insulation, appropriate construction materials, shading of windows and walls, and traditional cooling practices. Hickman also stressed the importance of removing trapped heat from buildings through night-time exhaust systems and forced ventilation, while keeping daytime windows closed in certain climates.

He further highlighted that passive cooling must extend beyond homes to public and work spaces such as footpaths, bus stops and cycling corridors, which see heavy use by vulnerable groups. Measures like cooling vests for factory and construction workers, shaded rest zones, and adjusted work timings were also cited as practical interventions. UNEP has been working with government bodies to include such strategies in heat action plans and housing schemes, with reported benefits of reducing discomfort hours by up to 35 percent while remaining cost-effective.

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From a medical perspective, Dr Harshal Salve from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) explained that extreme heat causes both immediate and long-term health impacts. Acute effects include heat stroke, confusion and convulsions, while prolonged exposure can contribute to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. He added that pregnant women face higher risks such as low birth weight, premature delivery and other complications, with children and the elderly being especially vulnerable.

Salve also pointed out that people living in upper floors of high-rise buildings experience greater heat stress regardless of income level. In Rajasthan, initiatives by the Mahila Housing Trust have demonstrated that cooling stations using passive technologies can reduce temperatures by 10 to 12 degrees Celsius without electricity. However, experts warned that despite policy recognition, weak enforcement at the local level continues to limit large-scale implementation of such solutions.

Climate and health specialist Ritika Kapoor from NRDC India noted that pilot projects using cool roofs have shown measurable benefits, including lower indoor temperatures, improved sleep quality and better ability for residents to remain indoors during peak heat hours. Experts collectively argued that while emergency responses like heat alerts and hospital preparedness are essential, passive cooling must be treated as preventive public health infrastructure, shifting the focus from crisis response to long-term heat resilience.

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