https://science.thewire.in/environment/indias-heat-action-plans-adaptation-vulnerable/
Researchers have stated that climate change made the heatwave that hit Bangladesh, India, Thailand and Laos in April 2023 at least 30 times more likely. On April 15, Thailand recorded its hottest ever temperature, when the city of Tak reached 45.4 degrees Celsius, and Vientiane, the capital of Laos, experienced its hottest day ever. Several cities in northern and eastern India saw temperatures surpass 44°C.
At the report’s launch on May 17, scientists from the World Weather Attribution group who studied the April heatwave pointed out that at present, official heat action plans are only in place in India. Bangladesh, Thailand and Laos, which were all hit hard by the April heatwave, have none.
The CPR report also found that HAPs in India are underfunded. Most do include capacity building in crucial sectors such as healthcare and construction, but not government departments or civil society. The report also points out that HAPs are guidelines rather than legal mandates, which means bureaucrats may not be accountable for delays in implementation. In many cases, important provisions of HAPs have been implemented only if a bureaucrat or a politician felt like doing so.
02/06/2023