Team Blitz India
MUMBAI: Even as Mumbai attempts to combat the destructive phenomenon of air pollution, another silent threat is shadowing the metropolis – that of rising temperatures and heat pollution.
The city is facing urban heat threat as temperatures are rising, leading to heat islands and health risks. According to the Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP), prepared by the World Resources Institute (WRI), the city will face “urban heat” if mitigation measures are not set in motion promptly.
Over a period of 47 years (1973- 2020), Mumbai has seen an increase of 0.25 degrees celsius per decade in temperatures. Ten heat waves and two extreme heat wave events were observed in this period.
MCAP has calculated the heat value and earmarked these “heat islands” at various places such as Dharavi, Matunga, Hanuman Nagar in Vikhroli, Powai Hiranandani, Bhagat Singh Nagar and Jawahar Nagar in Goregaon, Girgaon and Marine Lines.
The Mumbai airport area, for instance, is a clear heat island because there are no trees. Extreme heat is also witnessed in slum settlements, which are densely packed and have metal roofs.
As per the projections by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Climate Lab, by 2040, 60 per cent of the year will comprise high heat days (temperatures exceeding 32 degrees celsius) in Mumbai.
