Fifteen journalists tour MEER India's Pune office and field installation site
MEER India welcomed 15 journalists to its Pune office and field installation site for an on-ground introduction to reflective cooling and broader climate adaptation work — with detailed discussion of durability, scalability and the lived reality of extreme urban heat.
India is increasingly at the forefront of the global heat crisis. Rising temperatures, prolonged heatwaves and expanding urban heat island effects are placing growing pressure on millions of people, particularly those living in informal settlements and densely built low-income communities where families cope with extreme indoor temperatures under metal, concrete, asbestos or tarpaulin roofs with little ventilation.
Against this backdrop, the visiting journalists explored how MEER India is testing practical, low-cost cooling interventions designed to reduce heat exposure in vulnerable communities. The team demonstrated how reflective sheets are applied to roof surfaces and explained the practical steps involved in preparing, positioning and fixing the material.
A major focus of the visit was the practicality and scalability of the intervention. Journalists asked detailed questions about the durability of the reflective sheets, how they perform under seasonal weather exposure and what maintenance may be required over time. Several also asked how quickly the sheets can be deployed and whether the method could realistically scale across informal settlements, schools, clinics and larger community spaces.
Beyond the technical discussion, the visit created a valuable opportunity for journalists to engage directly with the lived realities driving the need for heat adaptation work in India. As Indian cities continue to confront rising temperatures and increasingly severe heat events, the visit underscored the growing importance of affordable and rapidly deployable cooling solutions for the communities most exposed to climate-related heat risks.