Burning Burdens: Unveiling the Gendered Toll of Rising Temperatures on Women in India

Jun 3, 2024 | Liz M. Kuriakose
View Original

The number of unusually hot days and nights on Earth is rising and becoming more common. Heat waves develop over a region as high-pressure systems gain strength and hover in the upper atmosphere for a long period of time. Stagnant air conditions, jet stream changes, urban heat island effect and climate change contribute to the development of frequent and intense heat waves.

A recent study published by the Indian Meteorological Department noted that the magnitude of moist heat stress increased 30% in India between 1980 and 2000. A spatial increase in the number of locations facing heat stress in the last 70 years (1951-2020) is recorded at approximately 30-40%. Even during dry heat stress, 30-40% of the areas had more than 60% humidity levels on a daily basis. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat results in more heat-related deaths and illnesses, particularly among the vulnerable population of women, children and the elderly. People suffer from exhaustion, dehydration, strokes, cramps and skin rashes, exacerbated chronic and infectious diseases, disrupted sleep cycles, stress and anxiety. These soaring temperatures are capable of inducing destructive natural calamities such as floods and cyclones too.