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CASE STUDY
an average age of 29 years heat, involving youth in salinity, and severe soil
(Ministry of Statistics and data collection and decision- erosion (TERI, 2014).
Programme Implementation making processes promotes
2019). While the youth are a sense of responsibility Due to inadequate affordable
at risk of extreme heat, they and accountability. This housing in the Mumbai
themselves can act as the approach not only deepens Metropolitan Region (MMR),
change agents. Youth play their understanding of a large population of the
a critical role in making heat-related issues but also working class is compelled to
changes in the community improves the identification reside in informal settlements.
and are the pioneering force of gaps. For instance, college These individuals, who build
that implements new policies. students and young adults and run the city, are denied
Youth involvement in recent could take over the ground- their right to adequate
years has been spread over level surveys previously housing and are forced to
vast horizons and has been a conducted by AASHA construct their homes on
prominent part of the field of workers. Additionally, youth the fringes of the city, often
disaster management. are central to spreading in vulnerable areas such as
awareness about the do’s low-lying marshy lands or
Thane Heat Action Plan’s and don’ts outlined in the hill slopes. These locations
comprehensive ward-level heat action plan, therefore, prove to be hazardous,
assessment model has set they can play a key role in particularly during periods
a precedent for other cities implementing the policy at of heavy rainfall and
and state governments, the grassroots level, thus, cyclonic events. Moreover,
prompting them to adopt enhancing its outreach and the lack of recognition of
similar frameworks adapted impact. these settlements results in
to their specific districts and them being inadequately
cities. These models aim 3. Case Study on provided with basic services,
to improve early warning Community Climate Action infrastructure, and security
systems, community planning in an urban poor of tenure, thereby increasing
outreach, and the integration community in Mumbai their vulnerability to the
of heat mitigation strategies (YUVA’s story) impacts of climate change
into urban planning. Given and related disasters
that India has over 4,800 3.1 Flooding and YUVA’s (Satterthwaite and Mitlin,
cities, developing localised climate hazard mapping 2014).
heat action plans is essential
for strengthening resilience The Maharashtra State To map these complexities,
against the increasing risks of Adaptation Action Plan on in 2021, Youth for Unity
extreme heat and humidity, Climate Change predicts that and Voluntary Action
which can be achieved by as compared to other districts (YUVA) began Climate
engaging youth in various in Maharashtra, Mumbai Hazard Mapping (CHM) in
ways. residents will experience the Mumbai Metropolitan
maximum discomfort in Region, a crucial tool for
While the youth can play the 2030s because of high identifying climate and social
a significant part in data felt temperature and will vulnerabilities (YUVA, 2023).
collection, awareness experience maximum warm YUVA is a non-profit working
generation, and acting nights. Also, the city is highly with the marginalized to
as support to the first prone to flash floods, high- empower them and help them
respondents during extreme intensity rainfall, coastal access their rights. YUVA
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