Extreme Heat

As global warming increases, so do temperatures around the globe. The Indian subcontinent has experienced several deadly heat waves over the past decade, with temperatures spiking in recent years. These increasing temperatures and severe heat waves take a toll on many –especially women — whose health and livelihoods are impacted.

Due to the frequent heat domes that hover over urban environments, residents of Rawalpindi have been forced to contend with nearly unlivable temperatures, resulting in difficulty for all in the city.

Heat waves severely impair not only health but also livelihood opportunities – which are crucial for widowed mothers in order to provide for their families. Faced with illness, poverty, and discomfort from the heat, many women throughout Pakistan and AJK expressed an upsurge in their anxiety and stress levels during heat waves.

“Abrupt changes in seasons and these drastic changes in weather cause diseases in our children and illnesses that bring flu, fever and chills. It can be very hard as mothers to raise children in this kind of environment. I am running a beauty parlour, but because of the extreme temperatures and the illnesses my kids contract, it’s hard to give 100% to my business skills.”

“There are a lot of health impacts from climate change - our children are falling very ill from such sudden and extreme changes in the weather. If the greenery were to increase, this would lead to a better climate, and better weather, and we will feel a lot more mentally at ease.”

In Rawalpindi, many mothers shared that they were incredibly stressed out about the ongoing heat waves and feared for what the future would bring if the temperatures continue to rise. They also noted that they have a more difficult time parenting as the heat develops, as children tend to have poor behaviour during heat waves.

While everyone is impacted by extreme heat, the women we spoke to told us that their mental health was suffering enormously from having to balance parenting and working in unbearable conditions. As one mother noted, “Climate change’s impacts are worse on us [single, widowed mothers] because we bear so many more responsibilities.”

On Heat Waves - What We Heard

“During heat waves we all have breathing issues and allergies are rampant.”

“Before there were no fans anywhere. We didn’t need fans in the summer because it wasn’t hot like it is today.”

“Because the rain isn’t coming, we are feeling the heat a lot earlier into the year.”

“The weather is so hot and dry.”

“The temperatures are hotter because we don’t have any trees. I think we should plant trees to combat this.”

“The heat keeps increasing – it feels like a punishment from God.”

“There is no air conditioning, how are we supposed to survive and make a living?”

“Our health is at risk when it is so hot.”

“For business it is difficult. There is no air conditioning, the heat is unbearable, you can’t go out of your house to sell – it is really difficult. There are also fewer customers to sell your products to because no one wants to leave the house and go out into even greater heat.”

“When there are heat waves, they really take a toll on us. Women can’t go outside of our homes for earning because it is too hot and the government doesn’t work on this. This is a big problem for single mothers especially.”