With rising temperatures posing an increasing threat to urban slum dwellers, EfD India (CECFEE), along with the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), organized a brainstorming workshop to explore solutions to mitigate the economic and health impacts of extreme heat on informal sector workers. Academics, policymakers, and civil society representatives gathered to discuss the latest research findings and policy interventions.
The workshop included research presentations on the economic effects of extreme heat and possible adaptation strategies. Professors Saudamini Das and E. Somanathan presented their findings from the EfD project, Effects of Heat on Incomes of Workers in the Informal Sector, based on a survey of 400 informal workers in Delhi.
High temperatures lead to low income and health problems
Their research showed that informal workers in Delhi had a 16% decline in earnings for each degree rise in mean temperature. There was a 40% drop in earnings on heatwave days due to absenteeism caused by heat-related illnesses and sleep deprivation. And finally, they found a 14% increase in medical expenses per degree of temperature rise, reaching 25% on heatwave days. The study underscores the urgent need for heat resilience measures for informal workers, a group highly vulnerable to climate change.
Suggestions for urban planning
Gina Acharya (Ahmedabad University, Gujarat) presented her research on heat adaptation strategies for low-income households. Her survey of 553 respondents in Ahmedabad found that households with shaded walls, cross-ventilation, and tree cover experienced significantly less heat stress. Cool-roof technology emerged as an effective adaptation, reducing indoor temperatures by 1.2°C and easing heat-related discomfort. Acharya emphasized the importance of integrating such strategies into urban planning.
Cool-roofs increase cognitive performance
Benston John (St. Stephen’s College, Delhi) discussed cool-roof paint interventions in Anganwadis (community-based child care centers) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. His findings showed that white-painted roofs lowered indoor temperatures by 1.3°C, leading to improved thermal comfort and better cognitive performance in children. Notably, children in cooler Anganwadis completed simple puzzles 13 seconds faster than their peers. While cost-effective, the scalability of such interventions depends on local labor costs, making them more viable in cities like Delhi.
Agro-bio panels have positive effects
Proshin Ghosh (Indo-Global Social Service Society) presented his research on Agri-bio panels as heat insulators for slum houses. Ghosh highlighted success stories of slum dwellers who had adopted these panels, noting their effectiveness in reducing indoor temperatures. However, challenges such as termite resistance and government engagement remain key concerns for broader implementation.
Panel called for immediate actions
The workshop concluded with a high-level panel discussion, chaired by Sh. Chittaranjan Dash (Delhi Development Authority) with representatives from the National Disaster Management Authority, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, and Centre for Social and Economic Progress.
The panelists emphasized the importance of harnessing human capital while addressing climate risks, particularly heat stress. They stressed the necessity of community-driven solutions, collaboration, and the need for effective disaster mitigation.
Key takeaways included:
- Expanding shelters with cooling facilities like fans, coolers, and cold water in urban areas.
- Strengthening local governance by financially empowering local authorities to rehabilitate slums and promote sustainable mobility.
- Creating green and blue spaces near slums to mitigate urban heat island effects.
- Enhancing heat action plans through continuous coordination and disaster preparedness.
- Encouraging private sector investment in scalable solutions like cool roofs and bio-panels.
- Leveraging international climate finance through mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund.
The workshop reinforced the need for urgent, coordinated efforts to address heat stress in India’s urban slums. The insights and solutions discussed serve as a foundation for future research, policy development, and targeted interventions. Moving forward, translating these research findings into scalable, actionable policies will be crucial in building climate resilience for the most vulnerable populations.
Read the paper by S.Das & E. Somanathan - Heat causes large earnings losses for informal-sector workers in India
EfD India