Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), in collaboration with the environment think tank iFOREST and Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC), unveiled the city’s first Integrated Heat and Cooling Action Plan (IHCAP) to address escalating heat stress and rising cooling demand. The two-day programme began on September 2.
The report warns that by 2050, Bhubaneswar’s cooling electricity demand could increase sevenfold, with normal hot days feeling like today’s extreme heat. Household air conditioner ownership has already surged from 6% to 15% between 2021 and 2023, contributing to nearly one-third of electricity use, rising to two-thirds during summer months.
Key Interventions Proposed:
- Expand urban greenery to meet WHO benchmark of 9 sq m per person.
- Restore water bodies and implement green road and traffic decongestion measures.
- Enforce Odisha Energy Conservation Building Codes for commercial and institutional structures above 500 sq m.
Effective implementation could reduce city surface temperatures by 0.5°C to 9.4°C and cut cooling energy consumption by 44% to 67%. iFOREST CEO Chandra Bhushan said the plan offers a model for other Indian cities, while SEC Project Manager Ander Zozaya emphasized the importance of data-driven climate planning.
The IHCAP aims to break the cycle of rising temperatures, soaring cooling demand, and growing energy emissions, preparing Bhubaneswar for a hotter future.
