**Executive Summary**
This report, submitted to the Lok Sabha on April 1, 2026, addresses the projected rise in global temperatures and India's proactive climate adaptation measures. It highlights that by 2050, 41% of the global population—particularly in South Asia—could face extreme heat. The document details the implementation of Heat Action Plans (HAPs) across 23 states and the government's commitment to net-zero emissions through national frameworks and international collaborations.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Global Temperature Projections and Risks**
* Extreme heat exposure is projected to rise from 23% (2010) to 41% (3.79 billion people) by 2050.
* Primary risks are concentrated in South Asia, Africa, and Southeast Asia due to greenhouse gas emissions.
* Impacts are expected to intensify as global temperatures exceed 1.5°C to 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
* **Heat Adaptation and Management Initiatives**
* The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is implementing HAPs in 23 states, focusing on early warnings and cooling centers.
* The India Meteorological Department (IMD) provides impact-based heatwave forecasts and seasonal outlooks (commenced in 2023).
* Specific advisories promote heat-resilient urban planning, including cool roofs, reflective infrastructure, and urban forests.
* **Mitigation and National Frameworks**
* India is pursuing net-zero emissions through renewable energy expansion, green energy corridors, and battery storage.
* The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) governs missions in solar energy, water conservation, and sustainable agriculture.
* India fosters international cooperation via the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure.
* **Climate Monitoring and Data Dissemination**
* The Ministry conducts continuous monitoring, publishing Monthly and Annual Climate Summaries and Climate Diagnostic Bulletins.
* Analysis includes rainfall variability, heat/cold wave characteristics, and sector-specific bulletins for health and agriculture.
* Information is disseminated through offline media, online platforms, and dedicated state-level websites.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments (23 Participating States)**
**Impact:** States are at the forefront of managing localized heat risks and public health responses.
**Action Required:** Implement Heat Action Plans, establish cooling centers, and utilize district-specific information for awareness campaigns.
**India Meteorological Department (IMD)**
**Impact:** Acts as the primary agency for climate monitoring and providing the technical basis for heat-related decisions.
**Action Required:** Continue issuing monthly and seasonal outlooks, impact-based forecasts, and maintaining digital platforms for end-user communication.
**Urban Planning and Infrastructure Departments**
**Impact:** Urban environments are identified as critical areas for heat-resilient modifications.
**Action Required:** Adopt recommended measures such as cool roofs, increasing water bodies, and developing urban forests to mitigate heat.
**Health and Agriculture Sectors**
**Impact:** These sectors are highly sensitive to extreme temperature shifts and heatwaves.
**Action Required:** Monitor sector-specific bulletins and integrate meteorological advisories into public health responses and farming schedules.
Key Entities Referenced
Heat Action Plans (HAPs): A collaborative framework between the NDMA and 23 states to implement early warning systems, health responses, and cooling centers to mitigate heatwave impacts.
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): A comprehensive national framework and commitment to combat climate change through specific missions such as solar energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable agriculture.
India Meteorological Department (IMD): The technical agency responsible for monitoring climate, issuing heatwave bulletins, impact-based forecasts, and seasonal outlooks.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): The primary body coordinating with states to implement heat mitigation strategies and foster disaster-resilient infrastructure.
Ministry of Earth Sciences: The nodal ministry overseeing weather and climate monitoring and the primary authority responding to parliamentary queries regarding temperature rise.
Ministry of Earth Sciences
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: RISE IN
TEMPERATURE
Posted On: 01 APR 2026 11:40AM by PIB Delhi
As per the study conducted by the University of Oxford and published in the journal Nature Sustainability,
it is reported that about 23% of the world's population was exposed to extreme heat conditions around
2010. This proportion is projected to increase significantly to about 41% by 2050 under a scenario of
rising global temperatures. The study further indicates that nearly 3.79 billion people could be affected by
extreme heat by mid-century, particularly in regions such as South Asia, Africa, and parts of Southeast
Asia. The increase is attributed to global warming driven by continued greenhouse gas emissions, with
impacts expected to intensify as global temperatures approach or exceed 1.5°C to 2°C above pre-industrial
levels.
IMD contributes to climate adaptation activities such as heat action plans by providing early warnings of
extreme weather events, including heatwaves, and disseminating timely forecasts and advisories to
minimize adverse impacts. The effective steps for climate adaptation for the rise in temperature in the
country taken by the Government are as follows:
Heat Action Plans (HAPs): The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is collaborating
with 23 states to implement HAPs, which include early warning systems, awareness campaigns,
public health responses, and setting up cooling centers.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), under the Ministry, issues special heat wave warning
bulletins and impact based heatwave forecasts, providing details of guidelines or advisories for
adopting heat-resilient urban planning measures such as cool roofs, urban forests, water bodies and
reflective infrastructure at meteorological sub-division and district levels to various users, including
the Ministry of Home Affairs, NDMA, State Disaster Management Authorities, Deputy
Commissioners/District Magistrates, health departments, Indian Railways, road transport, and the
media.
Since 2023, IMD has also commenced issuing seasonal and monthly heatwave Outlooks to enable
proactive measures in reducing heatwave-related risks across various parts of the country.
Further, IMD communicates all forecasts, including heat wave information, to the end user through
offline and online media. Additionally, dedicated State websites provide district-specific heatwave
information, and sector-specific bulletins are also available for the health and agriculture sectors.
The Government has taken several steps towards achieving the goal of net zero carbon emissions. These
include large-scale expansion of renewable energy, development of green energy corridors, promotion of
cleaner manufacturing and energy efficiency, and deployment of battery storage systems. The Indian
Government remains steadfast in its commitment to combat climate change through various programs and
initiatives, such as the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and the State Action Plan on
Climate Change (SAPCC). These plans encompass specific missions in areas like solar energy, energy
efficiency, water conservation, sustainable agriculture, health, Himalayan ecosystem preservation,
sustainable habitat development, Green India, and strategic knowledge for climate change. The NAPCCserves as a comprehensive framework for all climate-related actions. Additionally, India has taken a
proactive role in fostering international collaborations through initiatives such as the International Solar
Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure.
The Ministry carries out continuous monitoring and analysis of weather and climate across the country.
Information on extreme temperatures, heatwaves, and cold waves at regional and district levels is
documented through Monthly Climate Summaries (https://imdpune.gov.in/cmpg/Product/mcs.php),
Annual Climate Summaries (https://imdpune.gov.in/cmpg/Product/acs.php).
In addition, IMD also publishes a monthly and seasonal Climate Diagnostic Bulletin of India (CDBI)
(https://imdpune.gov.in/cmpg/Product/Cdbulletin.html), which includes information on temperature and
rainfall anomalies, extreme weather events, and large-scale climate drivers such as ENSO and IOD,
providing a diagnostic assessment of the prevailing climate conditions over the country. IMD has also
prepared climatological analyses on heat wave and cold wave characteristics over India (https://imdpune.g
ov.in/Reports/Met_Monograph_Cold_Heat_Waves.pdf).
IMD has also assessed the changing rainfall pattern in the country and its extremes in the recent 30 years
in different states and districts. Reports over different states on "Observed Rainfall Variability and
Changes" is available on the IMD Pune website
(https://imdpune.gov.in/Reports/rainfall%20variability%20page/raintrendnew.html).
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) prepares comprehensive Assessment Reports
about knowledge on climate change, its causes, potential impacts, and response options based on the
published studies. The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (2021-2023) consisted of:
WG I (Aug 2021): The Physical Science Basis
WG II (Feb 2022): Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability
WG III (Apr 2022): Mitigation of Climate Change
Synthesis Report (Mar 2023): Summarizing the comprehensive findings, which can be accessed at
https://www.ipcc.ch/reports/
This information was submitted by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth
Sciences and Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh in Lok Sabha on 1st April 2026.
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