Mumbai is heating up바카라literally and rapidly. A combination of unchecked urban development, shrinking green spaces, and outdated construction practices is driving record-breaking temperatures across India바카라s financial capital, experts warn. Environmentalists, scientists, and industry leaders are now calling for urgent, integrated climate action to safeguard the city바카라s future.
Swati Herkal, an environmental socialist and member of the Rotary Club of Wai, Maharashtra, highlighted the long-term warming trend with alarming data. 바카라A 2021 multi-university study found that from 1991 to 2018, Mumbai바카라s average temperatures rose by 2.2°C. During the same period, the city바카라s built-up area increased by 66%, intensifying the urban heat island effect,바카라 she said.
The city바카라s hottest February day in five years was recorded just months ago in February 2025, with temperatures hitting 38.7°C and prompting a rare heatwave alert from the India Meteorological Department. This trend follows other extreme weather events, including the deadly nationwide heatwave of 2015, when Mumbai also experienced abnormally high temperatures.
"It's Not Just The Heat 바카라 It's The Humidity"
According to Priyanka Bhide, Co-Founder of the Kubernein Initiative, what makes Mumbai바카라s climate particularly challenging isn바카라t just the rising temperatures바카라it바카라s the oppressive humidity. 바카라Mumbai has always been a humid city, but now it바카라s not just humid바카라it바카라s humid and unbearably hot,바카라 Bhide said. 바카라The combination is dangerous. The city is seeing higher average temperatures every year, and the sticky heat is lasting longer into months that were previously considered 바카라cooler바카라.바카라
She also noted that the city's climate resilience infrastructure hasn바카라t kept pace with these shifts. 바카라We바카라re living through what feels like extended summers. Earlier, the humidity was something Mumbaikars were used to managing. Now, it바카라s accompanied by heat that pushes the limits of physical endurance, especially for those without access to cooling,바카라 she added.
Bhide stressed that the urban poor and informal settlements face the worst consequences. 바카라Humidity combined with rising temperatures amplifies health risks. It바카라s no longer just uncomfortable바카라it바카라s a public health issue.바카라
Vanishing Green Spaces, Vertical Expansion
Herkal emphasized that vanishing tree cover is worsening the crisis. 바카라Trees do more than beautify바카라they cool urban areas, filter air, and reduce surface temperatures. As Mumbai replaces green spaces with concrete, especially in low-income neighborhoods, the most vulnerable residents suffer the most,바카라 she said.
Vertical urban expansion, another hallmark of Mumbai바카라s growth, is contributing to trapped heat and poor ventilation. 바카라High-rises respond to density but often ignore ecology. Without green planning, vertical growth turns cities into pressure cookers,바카라 Herkal warned.
While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra government have introduced initiatives such as cool roofs, urban forestation, and tree plantation drives, Herkal argues these are only first steps. 바카라We need a city-wide, climate-resilient master plan that integrates heat mitigation into every phase of urban planning.바카라
The Density Dilemma
Dr. Eilia Jafar, a humanitarian and development expert, pointed to the role of population density in amplifying heat stress. 바카라Areas like Dharavi, Kurla, and Chembur are densely packed, with little ventilation and sparse greenery. Informal housing with tin or asbestos roofs becomes unbearably hot, severely impacting health바카라especially for children and the elderly,바카라 she explained.
Jafar added that Mumbai is experiencing a rising number of extreme heat days바카라temperatures exceeding 38바카라40°C. 바카라Between 1973 and 2020, Mumbai recorded 10 heatwaves and 2 extreme events. April 2024 reached 39.7°C, the hottest in 15 years. Projections suggest by 2040, 60% of the year could consist of high-heat days. By the 2080s, average temperatures could rise by 2.5바카라4.5°C,바카라 she said.
Marine Ecosystems Under Stress
Rising sea surface temperatures are also endangering Mumbai바카라s marine biodiversity. 바카라We바카라re seeing coral bleaching, oxygen depletion, and declining fish stocks,바카라 said Jafar. 바카라Industrial pollution and land-based runoff are damaging marine ecosystems, threatening coastal livelihoods and food security.바카라
Building Smarter, Cooler Cities
Aaditya Sharda, Co-Founder of Infra.Market, believes the solution lies in transforming how we build. 바카라Traditional construction traps heat and consumes more energy. Instead, we should use thermally efficient concrete, low-carbon cement, and AAC blocks바카라which are lightweight, insulating, and more sustainable,바카라 he said.
Sharda added that sustainable practices must go beyond materials. 바카라We need to embed water reuse, minimize waste, and recycle industrial byproducts like fly ash. At Infra.Market, we바카라ve seen how sustainable construction can both reduce emissions and improve livability.바카라
A Path Forward
Experts agree that Mumbai must look to global models. Cities like Singapore and Barcelona are leading with green corridors, climate-sensitive building codes, and community-first urban planning. Herkal stressed that such frameworks are adaptable. 바카라Mumbai can바카라and must바카라create a sustainable blueprint. The time to act is now.바카라
As Mumbai braces for another sweltering summer, the growing consensus is clear: incremental fixes aren바카라t enough. Only a bold, integrated approach to urban resilience can prevent the city from becoming unlivable in the decades.
