New Delhi, October 25 : India’s decision to officially recognise heatwaves as natural disasters has brought renewed attention to the shortage of international funding for climate adaptation, with experts warning that vulnerable countries are bearing most of the financial burden of protecting their populations from rising temperatures.
The issue is expected to feature prominently at the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP31, scheduled to be held in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20.
Krishna S Vatsa, a member of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), said India could implement heat adaptation measures more effectively with greater international financial and technological assistance. He described existing adaptation resources as inadequate and unpredictable.
Vatsa said India had decided to address heat-related risks through national and state disaster mitigation funds but stressed the need for stronger international support, improved cooling technologies and effective heat action plans across states.
According to India’s first Adaptation Communication submitted to the UN climate conference in 2023, the country estimated its cumulative adaptation expenditure requirements at ₹56.68 trillion by 2030. Data cited from the Economic Survey 2025 indicates that around 98 per cent of India’s adaptation finance comes from domestic sources.
Experts say predictable international funding could help developing countries expand heat protection measures and implement long-term climate resilience strategies.
Benjamin Hickman, who leads the UN Environment Programme’s Cool Coalition programme in India, said improving access to climate finance requires stronger institutional capacity, practical funding mechanisms and cooperation among governments, communities and the private sector.
He stressed the need to make heat-resilient housing more affordable and improve cooling facilities, particularly for vulnerable populations. Public buildings such as schools, shelters and care homes also require upgrades to withstand extreme temperatures.
The UNEP’s Adaptation Gap Report 2025 projected that developing countries could require more than US$310 billion annually in public adaptation finance by 2035—at least 12 times the current international adaptation finance flows, according to the report cited in the article.
Sanjay Vashist, director of Climate Action Network South Asia, said climate adaptation must become a global priority. He called for developed countries to shoulder greater responsibility under the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities, which recognises their greater historical contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
Vashist also warned that current global policies could lead to warming of approximately 2.8 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, making stronger adaptation measures increasingly urgent.
He welcomed India’s recognition of heatwaves as a disaster but argued that countries should not be left to manage the consequences of climate change on their own.
With COP31 approaching, climate finance for developing countries is expected to be a key issue in negotiations, particularly as extreme heat intensifies the need for resilient infrastructure, accessible cooling and stronger public protection systems.
