Green Energy Key to Tackling Climate and Energy Crises: Pralhad Joshi at India Heat Summit 2026 – Indian PSU

India is no longer approaching a heat crisis—it is already in one. This was the stark message emerging from the India Heat Summit 2026, where policymakers, scientists, and climate experts underscored that green energy is central to addressing both climate change and energy security challenges.

Addressing the summit virtually, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi asserted that India’s renewable energy transition is not just an environmental imperative but also an economic necessity.

“Green energy is the solution to both the climate crisis and the global energy crisis,” he said, highlighting the growing role of distributed renewable energy.

He pointed to flagship schemes such as PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and PM-KUSUM, which are transforming households and farmers into energy producers, thereby decentralising India’s energy ecosystem.

Heat Crisis Now a Major Economic Risk

Organised by Climate Trends in partnership with key institutions including National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), India Meteorological Department (IMD), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI), the summit framed extreme heat as a “live economic risk” impacting productivity, health, and infrastructure.

Experts emphasised that heat resilience and economic growth are not competing priorities, but require coordinated action across sectors including energy, labour, health, and urban development.

Chennai Study Reveals Alarming Indoor Heat Stress

A groundbreaking study released at the summit highlights a critical blind spot in India’s climate response: indoor heat exposure.

Titled “Nighttime Thermal Stress in Low and Middle Income Housing in India”, the research tracked temperature and humidity across 50 households in Chennai between October 2025 and April 2026.

Key Findings:

• Indoor temperatures frequently exceeded 32°C, with some homes experiencing up to 8 months of continuous heat exposure
• Night temperatures rarely dropped below 31°C, even in cooler months
• Peak indoor heat occurred at night (8–9 PM), not midday
• Humidity levels above 75% worsened discomfort and health risks
• RCC structures trapped heat, prolonging exposure well into the night
• Low-income households relied only on fans, while high-income groups had access to air conditioning

According to Aarti Khosla, the findings highlight a serious policy gap: “Even at night, indoor temperatures rarely drop below 31°C. This chronic exposure affects sleep, recovery, and overall health, demanding urgent intervention.”

Housing Design and Income Define Heat Exposure

The study revealed a striking inequality:
Exposure is structural—but coping is economic.

Nearly all homes had similar concrete construction, but:

• Wealthier households mitigated heat through air conditioning
• Lower-income families remained exposed to persistent heat stress

Even air conditioning, researchers noted, offers only temporary relief due to heat-retaining building materials.

Dr Naveen Puttaswamy, co-author of the study, warned that indoor environments pose combined risks of heat stress and poor air quality, affecting both physical and mental well-being.

Policy Shift Needed: From Outdoor to Indoor Heat Monitoring

India currently has over 300 Heat Action Plans, with 100 more in development—but none mandate indoor temperature monitoring.

The study calls for urgent reforms, including:

• Subsidised cool roofs and passive cooling solutions
• Building codes mandating cross-ventilation
• Adoption of climate-responsive materials
• Integration of indoor heat monitoring into policy frameworks

Without these changes, experts warn that current policies will underestimate heat exposure and misdirect adaptation efforts.

Urban Tree Cover: A Missing Cooling Shield

A recent study in Nature Communications adds another dimension:
Urban tree cover can reduce heat intensity by 41–49%, yet benefits remain uneven.

Low-income, densely populated urban areas—where heat risk is highest—have the least tree cover, amplifying vulnerability.

Conclusion: Green Energy + Climate-Responsive Cities = The Way Forward

The India Heat Summit 2026 made it clear:
India’s fight against rising temperatures will depend on a dual strategy—

• Accelerating green energy adoption
• Redesigning cities and housing for heat resilience

With extreme heat already affecting millions, the challenge is no longer future-oriented. It is immediate—and demands policy innovation, infrastructure reform, and equitable climate action.

The writer of this article is Dr. Seema Javed, an environmentalist & a communications professional in the field of climate and energy