By THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM| A nota round table discussion on the growing challenge of Urban Heat Islands (UHI) was organised by the Climate Parliament at the prestigious India International Centre on May 15, bringing together policymakers, senior civil servants, parliamentarians, urban planners, environmental experts and representatives of civil society to deliberate on sustainable and climate-resilient urban development strategies.

The event witnessed the participation of several Members of Parliament, MLAs, Secretaries to the Government of India, Joint Secretaries from key ministries, officials from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), along with urban governance experts and policy professionals.

The round table was moderated by Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Chief Energy Policy Advisor at Climate Parliament, who underscored the urgency of adopting integrated and long-term strategies to combat the increasing impact of extreme heat conditions in rapidly urbanising Indian cities. He highlighted that rising urban temperatures are no longer merely an environmental concern but have emerged as a critical public health, economic and governance challenge.

The discussions focused extensively on developing actionable strategies for integrated cooling systems and climate-sensitive urban planning. Experts and participants stressed the need for large-scale tree plantation drives, promotion of passive architectural designs, sustainable and sensitive water management policies, expansion of district cooling systems and the establishment of robust heat governance mechanisms to improve urban resilience.

Participants observed that poorly planned urbanisation, reduction of green cover, excessive concretisation and rising vehicular emissions have significantly intensified heat retention in metropolitan areas, thereby worsening the Urban Heat Island effect. The experts advocated that Indian cities must integrate climate-responsive infrastructure into future development planning to ensure environmental sustainability and citizen well-being.

One of the major themes of deliberation was the importance of passive cooling techniques in buildings and public infrastructure. Speakers noted that traditional architectural practices, natural ventilation systems and energy-efficient urban designs can substantially reduce dependence on artificial cooling while lowering energy consumption.

The meeting also highlighted the necessity of improving urban water systems and conserving water bodies, which play a vital role in regulating microclimates and mitigating extreme heat. Several participants called for coordinated efforts between urban local bodies, state governments and central agencies for effective implementation of climate adaptation measures.

Among the prominent participants was Parvez Hayat, Independent External Monitor (IEM) associated with institutions including SBI, SIDBI, NHAI and IIT Goa under the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) framework. His participation added further depth to the deliberations on institutional accountability, governance mechanisms and sustainable policy implementation.

The round table concluded with a collective resolve to strengthen policy coordination, accelerate climate-responsive urban planning and evolve a comprehensive action framework to address the growing threat of Urban Heat Islands across Indian cities. Participants emphasised that collaborative governance, scientific planning and community participation would be essential to building cooler, healthier and more sustainable urban environments for the future.