Geospatial Analysis of Heat Stress and Green Cover Loss in Delhi
Heatwaves are really hitting the national capital this summer, but the numbers tell a different story. A new geospatial analysis confirms that nearly 76% of Delhi is constantly under heat stress. This is tied directly to how much Green cover is disappearing.
The report, put out by the Centre for Science and Environment, showed exactly how this extreme heat got worse as the city lost its natural defenses. Think about the shrinking Green cover. It dropped from 25.36 per cent back in 2014 down to just 14.14 per cent by 2024. Water bodies also shrank; their footprints went from 1.25 per cent down to 0.99 per cent over that same period.
That difference matters. Delhi’s core area is actually 3.8°C cooler than the surrounding areas. This means the heat stress just stays locked in, round the clock, in those dense, concrete neighbourhoods.
The team used Landsat data to pinpoint these heat spots and where the natural heat sinks were failing. Areas hitting over 45°C for six years straight were flagged as severely stressed. We’re talking about industrial zones like Bawana, Mayapuri, and Mundka. But it wasn't just industry. Newer places, like Bharat Mandapam and East Kidwai Nagar, are also emerging as hotspots.
It was surprising, actually. Lutyen’s Delhi, Civil Lines, the Cantonment—those areas managed to stay below that stress line. Why? Low density, lots of shading from trees covering the concrete. It really shows how much canopy cover matters.
And then there’s the AC factor. People using air conditioners isn't just stressing the power grid. It’s cranking up the urban heat island effect. It’s heating up the air for everyone who relies on the outdoor environment to cool down. It just spurs this whole cooling inequity.
Mitashi Singh, the programme manager at CSE, gave us some raw data. On May 25, 2026, Delhi’s surface temperatures swung wildly, from 31.5°C up to 54.6°C. The city average was 43.15°C. The really brutal part? The highest temps, over 50°C, popped up in the western, north-western, and southwestern parts—places like Karala, Mundka, Begumpur, Bawana, Chhawla, and Khera. Delhi even had its warmest May night in nearly fourteen years on that date, hitting 32.4°C.
But the report wasn't just about temperature. It looked at who actually suffers. The heat action plans exist, they acknowledge different vulnerable groups. But they don't offer real strategies for resilience. The communities that are most exposed—construction workers, street vendors, people in informal settlements—they have no real means to adapt to this rising heat.
Rajneesh Sareen, another programme director at CSE, pointed out the reality: “They toil through the day to earn their daily bread. This becomes brutal when the nights don't give any rest. And if there’s a heat disruption on the job—if someone gets sick—it means lost wages.”
The data on construction sites is grim too. Ninety-two per cent of building projects are in areas where the land surface temperature hit that 45°C mark at least once between 2015 and 2024. Seventy-seven per cent of those are in areas seeing recurring extreme heat. And look at the workforce itself. Eighty per cent of Delhi’s workers are in the informal sector. Seventy-five per cent of the women working there are also in that sector.
Experts are clear now. The fix isn't just managing the heat; it’s fixing what caused it. We need to deal with the dense building forms. We need more Green and blue spaces. Buildings need proper shading and insulation. Layouts need to allow for ventilation. We need surfaces that don't just trap heat and AC waste.
But there has to be immediate action for the people exposed right now. Mandatory cooling breaks. Staggering work times. Setting up clear procedures. And providing real fiscal and medical support when the heat emergencies hit.
Anumita Roychowdhury, the executive director at CSE, put it plainly. “We can’t treat heat like it’s just a passing thing. It’s a harsh reality that’s sticking around, maybe even getting worse. Cities have to become liveable in this climate-risked time.”
Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board
Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.
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