The High Court in the western state of Rajasthan, grappling with scorching temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit), criticised authorities for their failure to adequately safeguard the public from the oppressive heat.
It emphasised the urgency of the situation, noting that hundreds of lives had been lost this month due to the extreme weather conditions.
India is experiencing a severe heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in multiple cities.
The High Court in Rajasthan, particularly affected by the scorching weather, criticised authorities for their inadequate measures to safeguard the public from the heat.
The court emphasised the grim toll of the heatwave, stating that hundreds of lives had been lost this month due to the extreme weather conditions.
“We do not have a planet B which we can move onto… If we do not take strict action now, we will lose the chance of seeing out future generations flourish forever.”
The court instructed the state government to establish compensation funds for the families of individuals who succumb to heat-related illnesses.
Regarding the current heatwave and similar occurrences in the future, the court advocated for the designation of such events as “national calamities.”
This designation would enable the mobilisation of emergency relief resources akin to those deployed during floods, cyclones, and other natural disasters.
While India has long grappled with scorching summer temperatures, scientific studies indicate that climate change is exacerbating heatwaves, making them longer, more frequent, and more severe.
As temperatures soared in New Delhi this week, power consumption in the city, home to an estimated 30 million people, reached a record high on Wednesday.
Scientists assert that human-induced climate change is responsible for the alarming heat conditions in India and emphasise that it should serve as a stark warning.
Despite being the world’s most populous nation and the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, China has pledged to transition to a net zero emissions economy by 2070, a goal set two decades later than most industrialised Western nations.
Presently, the country heavily relies on coal for power generation. The government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently seeking a third term in ongoing elections, argues that coal remains crucial for meeting India’s growing energy demands and for lifting millions of people out of poverty.
YOU MAY ALSO READ: Yemen’s Huthis threaten to escalate Red Sea shipping attacks after US, UK strikes