Rajendra Singh, Member and Head of Department at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), said that the mortality rate owing to natural disasters has come down from the early 1990s.

Speaking at a conclave hosted by the India Cooling Coalition Secretariat, led by the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), Singh said, “The NDMA has moved from a relief-centric approach to a preventive one. As a result, we have significantly reduced the mortality rates in recent natural disasters compared to those in the 90s and early 2000s. While the NDMA is more than ready to help out wherever the need arises, we would need help from everyone – academia, business leaders and policymakers – to move towards our Viksit Bharat goal.”

Speaking about the severe heatwave forecast by the IMD, Singh said that the heat action plans by 23 states and 250 districts have been approved by the government and it is the responsibility of district panchayats and local leaders to implement them.

“There is no dearth of money. Honest intention to implement the heat action plan is required,” Singh said.

The two-day conclave brought together policymakers, industry leaders, experts, and civil society to explore how India’s national cooling vision – articulated in the India Cooling Action Plan – can be implemented at the subnational level.

Delivering the opening remarks, Dr Satish Kumar, President and Executive Director, AEEE, said, “The intensifying heat stress we are witnessing over the years is not just a weather phenomenon – it’s a developmental challenge. From food security to public health, nearly every aspect of our lives is now vulnerable to extreme heat. If we don’t act now, emissions from cooling alone could hit 6.1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050. The opportunity lies in urgent, local action. It’s time to move beyond plans on paper and drive real implementation in states and cities where the impact will truly be felt.”