The Indian Public Servant Helping Disadvantaged Communities Adapt To Rising Heat

UNEP
In one of India’s most heat-vulnerable regions, Supriya Sahu is putting in place a suite of effective cooling regulations and nature-based adaptation measures to improve the health and safety of families.

Residents of Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state in southern India, often use the saying "hot, hotter, and hottest" to describe the temperature variations in their rapidly growing city.

And the risk of extreme heat bouts, often referred to as "silent killers," is also increasing. In 2024, India experienced its most prolonged heatwave since 2010, with Tamil Nadu being one of the states most affected by high temperatures.

The problems stemming from extreme heat disproportionately impact disadvantaged communities and are often overlooked. However, one public servant made cooling initiatives and support for vulnerable families her priority, helping lead Tamil Nadu to become the first state in India to officially declare heat a state-specific disaster.

Supriya Sahu has served as Additional Chief Secretary in the Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Forest for the past four and a half years. During this time, she has positioned Tamil Nadu as a global leader in climate mitigation, adaptation and heat resilience. Her initiatives have showcased how integrated governance and nature-based solutions, along with a mix of low- and high-tech interventions, can protect vulnerable communities, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.