SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | SDG 13: Climate Action National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) | Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
South Asia Disasters Net Vol. 20 Issue 7 (Nov 2025): “From Heatwaves to Cooling Futures” showcases Maharashtra’s leadership in climate action by executing a strategic pivot from episodic heatwave relief to a long-term “Cooling Transition”. Facing acute risks where heat-related productivity losses exceed ₹5,000 crore annually and heat-related deaths are projected to rise by 30% by 2025, the state has operationalized the Maharashtra State Cooling Action Roadmap (2024-2025). This framework integrates district-level Heat Action Plans (HAPs) in over 20 districts (including Nagpur, Chandrapur, and Beed) with structural innovations in housing, agriculture, and governance.
Key Innovations and Impact:
Rural Resilience: “The Green Project” in Nagpur, a collaboration with UNICEF, demonstrated that low-cost solutions like cool roofs (heat-resistant paint), rainwater harvesting, and solar pumps could reduce indoor temperatures by an average of 3.43°C and cut grid electricity consumption by 60-70% (saving ~₹10,000/year per unit).
Architectural Wisdom: The revival of traditional Wada architecture is highlighted as a sustainable cooling measure, capable of keeping indoor temperatures 4-6°C lower than modern concrete structures without energy-intensive air conditioning.
Institutional Strength: The state is institutionalizing resilience by establishing the State Institute of Disaster Management (SIDM) in Nagpur and modernizing the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) to coordinate real-time heat responses.
What is a Cool Roof? In the context of Maharashtra’s climate action, a Cool Roof is a passive cooling technology that involves coating roofs with heat-resistant, food-grade reflective paints or installing materials like bamboo-jute panels. These surfaces reflect sunlight and absorb less heat than standard roofs, significantly lowering indoor temperatures and reducing the need for active cooling (like ACs), which is vital for energy efficiency and protecting vulnerable communities in informal settlements.
Policy Relevance
This initiative marks a critical governance shift towards treating cooling as a public good and human right, rather than a luxury. The roadmap advocates for a “whole-of-government” approach, aiming to embed cooling targets into District Disaster Management Plans (DDMPs), Smart City Missions, and affordable housing schemes. It proposes a dedicated ₹1,000 crore budget and the creation of a “Cool Maharashtra Fund” to leverage CSR and climate finance, shifting the focus from post-disaster compensation to anticipatory resilience building.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will the Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority (MSDMA) integrate the successful “Green Project” pilots into the state’s affordable housing policy (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana) to ensure that all new rural housing stock is “heat-ready” by default?
Follow the full news here: From Heatwaves to Cooling Futures: Maharashtra’s Leadership in Climate Action in India