NRDC and Partners Win Ashden Award for Heat Action Plans

The winners of the 2020 Ashden Awards have been announced this week. NRDC is deeply honored to have received on behalf of esteemed partners for the award for Cool Cities for our work on Heat Action Plans and Cool Roofs. We are honored to be among the 11 winners from the UK and developing countries for proven climate solutions that can drive a green recovery from coronavirus.

July 2, 2020

Anjali Jaiswal (Alum)

The winners were announced in a video celebration featuring films of the organizations in action. Watch the celebration here with Dr. Tejas Shah from Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation explaining the groundbreaking Heat Action Plan and Cool Roofs Program.

Ashden CEO Harriet Lamb said:

“There’s growing momentum for a green recovery from coronavirus, one that escapes the failures of the past and propels us toward a low-carbon future. This new future is within our reach, as long as we back radical climate solutions. This year Ashden has uncovered outstanding pioneers worldwide. Our award winners are bringing clean energy to the world’s poorest people and creating sustainable buildings and transport. They are protecting our rainforests and tackling the impact of deadly heatwaves.”

The Ashden Cool Cities Award, sponsored by K-CEP and Climateworks, emphasized the link between the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis because “those already disadvantaged are most at risk”. That is why the Ashden finalists include organizations helping the most vulnerable. Ashen also highlights another link between the two emergencies and theme for the finalist: “How all of us, whatever our wealth or status, can come together to create change that benefits everyone.”

NRDC is deeply humbled to share the Ashden award with the many partners who contribute to effective Heat Action Plans and Cool Roofs Programs. We congratulate all of our partners and their unique roles.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) – strong leadership in developing statewide network to expand the heat action plans to over 23 states and 100 cities and districts
Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) – central to disseminating 5-day forecasts of daily maximum temperatures to over 350 cities, vital to allowing time to prepare and respond
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) – pioneering effort for the first Heat Action Plan in South Asia, adding a cool roofs program with the aim to cover for 15,000 roofs in 2020
Indian Institute of Public Health – Gandhinagar (IIPH-G) – premier local partner in driving change through cutting-edge analysis on over 1200 excess deaths in the month of May alone during historic 2010 heat wave in Ahmedabad
Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) – national partner in amplifying the need for climate resilience in India connecting increased temperatures, extreme heat and climate change
Mahila Housing SEWA Trust (MHT) – women-led group installing cool roofs in slum and lower income communities in Ahmedabad
Maharashtra Public Health and Administration – state partner in scaling heat action plans to the Nagpur region
Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) – state partner in developing first state-wide heat action plan
Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) – lead partner in designing cool roof programs in the cities of Hyderabad and Ahmedabad
International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIITH) – main partner in building the evidence base that cool roofs work in the Indian context to keep indoor temperatures cooler and save electricity
Telangana Municipal Administration & Urban Development Department (MAUD) – key partner in piloting city and state-wide cool roof programs in South India

Many cities, states and institutions around India also contributed to the effectiveness of Heat Action Plans, including public and private hospitals, urban health centers, link works, 108 ambulance response services and more. Several international experts also contributed to the Heat Action Plans and Cool Roofs, including deep expertise from the University of Washington, Mount Sinai Icahn School of Public Health, and Georgia Tech Institute of Technology, as well as, NYC Cool Roofs, National Ocean and Atmospheric Agency, Global Heat Health Information Network, Indo-US Science and Technology Forum, the Climate Development and Knowledge Network, among others.

As climate change continues to fuel brutal heat waves worldwide, effective public health response strategies are more important than ever before. Drawing on the strengths of government leadership, efficient interagency coordination, scientific expertise, robust communication programs, effective community engagement, strong action on heat preparedness can deliver lifesaving benefits—especially in building back better after the coronavirus.