Overview
- Released at COP30 by Climate Trends and Climate Compatible Futures, the report ties record heat to a distinct cooling-led spike in electricity demand during April–June 2024.
- Heatwave-driven demand contributed to an estimated 327 million tonnes of CO₂ in that quarter, with summer fossil-based power over the last decade adding about 2.5 gigatonnes.
- India’s capacity rose from 285 GW in 2015 to 461 GW in 2024, with renewables doubling to 209 GW but fossil capacity also increasing to 243 GW as coal remained the dominant supply source.
- Central and eastern states averaged roughly 50 heatwave days annually over 2014–2024, northern states saw the steepest temperature rises, and Uttarakhand jumped from zero heatwave days in 2023 to 25 in 2024.
- The authors call for urgent storage, flexible generation, smart grids and demand-side measures, noting gaps in Heat Action Plans and citing Ember and CREA analyses that outline pathways to avoid new coal if renewable additions accelerate.