Citizens and experts discuss ways to boost Chennai’s climate resilience

Citizens, researchers and urban practitioners came together for a session on ‘Cooling Singara Chennai’, organised by the Greater Chennai Corporation in collaboration with Auroville Consulting, to discuss the city’s growing heat challenges and possible solutions.Radhika Sundaresan of Auroville Consulting highlighted the links between urban heat and flooding, noting that the two cannot be addressed as separate problems. The way land is used, buildings are designed, water is managed and infrastructure is developed, all influence how cities respond to extreme heat and heavy rainfall, she said.Pradheeps Muthulingam, consultant at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), presented findings from a heat risk assessment that identified nine wards in Chennai as being at very high risk and 30 wards as high-risk areas.The assessment considered temperature trends, population density, built-up areas, green cover, waterbodies, access to roads, and the prevalence of chronic illnesses. The findings highlighted the need for neighbourhood-specific interventions, he said.Mr. Muthulingam also stressed the need for ward-level heat risk mapping to guide targeted interventions, particularly in densely populated neighbourhoods with limited green cover and inadequate access to basic services.Umesh, a resident of Nanganallur, said the neighbourhood had transformed from an area of independent houses into one dominated by five- and six-storey buildings in the three years since he moved to Chennai. The dense construction and increased use of air-conditioners have contributed to higher indoor temperatures, he said.Participants also discussed the importance of strengthening heat action planning, improving public awareness and using research and local data to identify vulnerable communities and prioritise interventions. Published - October 25, 2026 12:59 am IST