Yes it is true women are more prone to heat waves than men. A new study by Dr. Deepty Jain, Assistant Professor at IIT Delhi’s Transportation Research and Injury Prevention (TRIP) Centre reveals how soaring summer temperatures affect women, particularly mothers of school-going children, much more severely than men. The research calls for urgent measures to build resilience rather than waiting for the next heat wave. “Solutions to heat exposure must be discussed all year round,” says Dr. Jain. “When heat waves strike, we scramble for answers, but by then, it’s often too late.
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However, experts sound a warning bell about this crisis that awaits the city in just a few months – extreme summer heat.
What are reason behind this as the study funded under the High Volume Transport Programme by UKaid, found that women are disproportionately affected by heat for multiple reasons
Few of them listed below :-
- Walking is their primary mode of travel: While men rely on vehicles, 65% of women’s trips are on foot, often during peak heat hours (1 PM–4 PM).
- Caregiving burdens: Women juggle school drop-offs, errands, and household responsibilities, limiting their ability to change travel modes or timings.
- Poor street infrastructure: Streets most used by women and children lack proper shading and cooling amenities.
- The situation is especially extreme for lower-income women, who navigate poorly designed, overheated streets without access to alternatives.
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TRIP Centre, IIT Delhi, organized a roundtable discussion “Gendered Resilience in Transport: Enhancing Adaptation to Extreme Heat in Delhi” on 18th December 2024 with the national government authorities, advocacy groups, and practitioners. At the roundtable discussion, experts, urban planners, and community leaders weighed in on the findings and the path forward:
Ms Anumita Roychowdhury from the Centre for Science and Environment said: “Urban infrastructure must integrate heat resilience. Shaded bus stops, pedestrian pathways, and green zones are no longer optional – they are a necessity.”
Sh. Brahm Prakash Yadav from NDMA said: “We need city level action and area level action plan to address rising temperatures. While, we may have proposals but we need funds to implement the mitigation strategies”.
Dr Mukti Advani, Senior Principal Scientist from CRRI, said: GIS-based decision support tools are needed for enabling focused and area-level interventions.
Dr. Anshu Ogra, Assistant Professor, School of Public Policy, said: “There is a need for multi-scale governance that would require vertical and lateral integration.”
Ms Kalpana Vishwanath from Safeti pin added: The push for air-conditioned infrastructure is short-sighted. Not only is it unsustainable, but it also increases thermal shock for outdoor workers and commuters transitioning between heat and cooled spaces.”
Ms Ruchi Varma from Human Qind said “We need solutions that are cocreated using participatory approaches for enhancing women’s mobility to address heat challenges.”
Dr. Jain emphasises that preparation for extreme heat must start today. The lessons from Delhi’s winter air pollution crisis are clear – cities cannot afford to be reactive when climate emergencies strike.
“Climate change is not a seasonal challenge,” says Dr. Jain. “We need year-round, proactive solutions to protect our cities, especially the most vulnerable populations. By addressing heat risks during the winter months, Delhi can ensure its streets, schools, and communities are ready to face the heat waves of tomorrow – with resilience, equity, and care.