Tamil Nadu must scale up both grey and green solutions across urban and rural areas, prioritising climate adaptation for all its residents, says the report.
Tamil Nadu, one of India’s most urbanised States, faces growing climate risks due to rapid expansion and rising temperatures.
According to the 2011 census, 48.45% of the State’s population lives in cities, a figure projected to reach 60% by 2036. This rapid urbanisation has increased exposure to thermal discomfort, with temperature and humidity playing a significant role in worsening health risks.
A recent risk assessment by the Climate Studio, Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management (CCCDM), Anna University, analysed thermal discomfort days in Tamil Nadu under the SSP2-4.5 climate scenario. The findings show that discomfort days, currently exceeding 100-125 annually in northern coastal regions, are projected to rise to 200-250 days by mid-century and more than 250 days by the end of the century. This trend poses severe health risks, particularly in densely populated cities like Chennai.
Chennai, with high population and vulnerable groups such as the homeless, is especially at risk. “From the hazard assessment of cities, it is observed that Tambaram, Chennai, and Avadi are most affected by multiple hazards viz. flood, drought, heat waves, thermal discomfort, pollution hazards, and sea level rise. Thanjavur closely follows the above-mentioned cities mainly due to high drought proneness, 44 days of heat waves, and 27 days of thermal discomfort. With respect to vulnerability, Dindigul, Tirunelveli, and Vellore cities are the most vulnerable among the 21 cities owing to a lack of green cover, waterbodies, and high built-up area, the study notes.
Joel Shelton, social activist, says a free housing scheme for homeless individuals under the Special Component Plan, as a significant proportion of the homeless population in Tamil Nadu are Dalits, and a rental housing programme would be beneficial. He suggests that the burden of beneficiary contribution for the poor to build houses be reduced.
Mr. Shelton also points out that many of the tenements built for people relocated from waterbodies are not climate-resilient. The high-rise buildings are too close together, creating a heat island effect that worsens the impact of extreme weather.
To mitigate the growing risks, Tamil Nadu must scale up both grey and green solutions across urban and rural areas, prioritising climate adaptation for all its residents, the report recommends. Kurian Joseph, Director, CCCDM says that while nature-based solutions should be the priority, some physical infrastructure must also be considered due to practical limitations.
He says that nature-based solutions to adapt to increasing heat, such as urban greenspaces, ideally should cover 30% of a city’s area, but in Chennai, this is barely 3% now. Given the lack of space to expand greenspaces further, Prof. Joseph suggests that buildings to house the disadvantaged can be equipped with air conditioning, powered by solar energy or cool roofing, to mitigate the effects of heat.
Published – December 14, 2024 07:58 pm IST
