NRDC hosts Global Forum on Heating & Cooling Solutions in India
Delhi Delhi: The Global Heat and Cooling Forum, organised by NRDC in partnership with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the World Bank Group concluded in New Delhi today after two days of solution-driven deliberations, discussions on partnership opportunities and sharing commitments to build climate-resilient communities and accelerate sustainable cooling solutions. The Forum brought together national and state level government officials, policymakers, academia, climate activists, civil society and media to tackle extreme heat and sustainable cooling as interconnected issues.
Addressing the Forum in his keynote address, Hon’ble Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Dr. Chandrasekhar Pemmasani said, “Heat is not just a climate issue. It is a human crisis. Promoting energy efficient cooling systems and prioritising vulnerable communities will enable India to build a cooler, more sustainable and resilient future.” The Minister highlighted the importance of innovation and adoption of traditional knowledge systems, such as millet cultivation, water tanks and mud houses, that have enabled rural communities to adapt to extreme heat. “Our policies must learn from these practices to create scalable, equitable solutions for a warming world,” he said.
Recognizing India’s diverse climate contexts and growing vulnerability to extreme heat, the Forum focused on three strategic pillars: promoting scalability of sustainable heat and cooling solutions, ensuring equitable access to thermal comfort for all, and protecting communities from extreme heat. With India and the world facing increasing extreme heat events and rising cooling demands, the Forum served as an important platform for multi-stakeholder collaboration in aligning policy, technology and financing to drive equitable climate-resilient solutions.
Speaking at the event, Abhas Jha, Practice Manager, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, World Bank’s South Asia Region, said, “India’s heat load will triple this decade, even in a moderate warming scenario, as evidenced by increasing heatwaves and temperatures year-on-year. This is further compounded by the high climate cost of cooling. India’s response, in the form of the India Cooling Action Plan and Heat Action Plans, is commendable. However, we must now prioritise proactive, preventive and multisectoral solutions to address warming more equitably.”
A central theme of the forum was ensuring that low-income and marginalised communities have access to affordable and effective cooling solutions. The importance of policy alignment, industry innovation and financing partnerships to scale up cooling interventions across India towards this objective was discussed. Moving beyond short-term relief, experts emphasised the need for long-term resilience strategies, equitable access to cooling and sustained investment. Viewing heat as a structural development challenge requires proactive leadership at all levels, community-driven action, and data-informed solutions.
