40+ Resources Driving Research, Resilience, and Response  

Heat Stress Day: Why It Matters.  

Observed each year on June 2, Heat Stress Day is more than a symbolic observance; it is a vital reminder of the rising risks posed by extreme heat, especially for the most vulnerable. In India, the urgency is especially acute. The day traces back to a series of devastating heatwaves in the early 2010s; most notably the 2010 Ahmedabad heatwave, which led to an estimated 1,344 excess deaths. This tragedy spurred a pioneering response: the development of the world’s first city-level Heat Action Plan in 2013 by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, in partnership with public health and academic experts. This blueprint has since influenced climate adaptation and public health strategy globally (Knowlton et al., 2014).  

The need for action has only become more pressing.  

Since 1992, India has documented over 24,000 heat-related deaths, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). In 2024, the country experienced one of its hottest and longest heat waves on record, pushing temperatures well beyond safe human thresholds.  

But the impact of heat stress is not evenly distributed.  

Studies from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) show that women, especially those in informal and marginalised sectors, are between 25–150% more likely to experience heat-related health impacts. This heightened risk is shaped by a combination of occupational exposure, social inequities, and physiological vulnerability, amplified by inadequate access to cooling, healthcare, and policy protections.  

From Crisis to Justice: The Evolving Story of Heat Stress in India  

Heat stress is not new, but it has evolved from a seasonal hazard into a structural crisis. Climate change is accelerating both the frequency and intensity of heatwaves. What began as a localised tragedy in Ahmedabad now represents a national challenge, one that affects urban slums, rural fields, factory floors, and construction sites across India.  

Millions remain exposed, with women, outdoor workers, caregivers, children, and the elderly bearing the brunt of the heat. And often, they do so without institutional support or infrastructure to shield them. As such, heat stress today is not only a public health emergency, but is a lens through which we must examine issues of gender justice, urban inequality, and climate resilience. Women and marginalised communities in India face a significantly higher risk of heat-related health impacts. 

Adding to this, research by the University of Michigan shows that women are more vulnerable during heatwaves, due to both biological susceptibility and socio-economic constraints that limit access to healthcare and protective infrastructure. Together, these findings make one thing clear: climate resilience strategies must be gender-responsive and equity-focused to protect those bearing the greatest burden of extreme heat.  

Why Oneworld Colab Compiled This Resource  

At Oneworld Colab, we believe real change happens when knowledge is shared, voices are uplifted, and communities are connected. As a knowledge partner and ecosystem enabler, we are committed to supporting the people and ideas driving meaningful solutions at the intersection of climate resilience and gender equity.  

In the lead-up to Heat Stress Day 2025, we’ve brought together a curated collection of over 40 resources that spotlight the work of researchers, grassroots leaders, front line organisations, innovators, and policy advocates across India. From peer-reviewed studies and urban cooling solutions to community-driven interventions and policy toolkits, this guide reflects a range of approaches working toward a more inclusive and climate-resilient future.  

We know this is not a comprehensive list! 

Across the country, multiple efforts and ideas are taking shape in communities every day, often quietly and powerfully. This is a living resource, and we hope it continues to grow. If you know of a study, initiative, or organisation working on heat stress, especially with a gender-responsive lens, we would love to learn from you. Please share it with us.  

Together, we can build a more informed, connected, and responsive climate action ecosystem.  

[Scroll down to explore the full list →]  

A. RESEARCH & EVIDENCE-BASED STUDIES  

1. Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH), Gandhinagar Region: Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Focus: Urban heat island research and vulnerability mapping for women and children; contributed to the Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan (PDF).  

2. Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) Region: Pan-India Focus: Caste-based “thermal injustice” and occupational heat exposure for marginalised groups. Resource: Thermal Injustice Study  

3. MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) Region: Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and five other states Focus: Multi-state studies on women’s health impacts from extreme heat, including reproductive and mental health.  

4. Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe) Region: Delhi Focus: Impact of heat stress on informal sector women workers; research on health, economic, and living conditions.  

5. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) Region: India-relevant/global Focus: Maternal heat stress and infant health, with evidence of long-term impacts. Resource: Heat Stress and Babies  

6. ScienceDirect – Heat and Women’s Health in India Region: India Focus: Peer-reviewed study on occupational and reproductive health risks for women due to heat.  

7. Harvard Mittal South Asia Institute Region: South Asia/India Focus: Field research documenting lived experiences of marginalised women and communities facing heat stress. Resource: Climate Research Field Trip  

8. BehanBox Region: Tamil Nadu, pan-India Focus: Investigative journalism on heat stress among women garment workers; reporting on working conditions and health impacts. Resource: Heat Stress in TN Garment Factories  

9. Indiaspend Region: Pan-India Focus: Data journalism on policy neglect and women’s vulnerability to heat, especially home-based workers.  

10. Science Magazine Region: Global/India-relevant Focus: Maternal health risks of heat exposure during pregnancy.  

11. World Economic Forum (WEF) Region: Global/India-relevant Focus: Quantifying the impact of climate change on women’s health.  

12. Wellcome Trust – Maternal and Newborn Heat Health Region: Pan-India Focus: Large-scale cohort study on effects of extreme heat on maternal, placental, and fetal health.  

13. Frontiers in Psychology – Eco-Anxiety Among Women Region: Global/India-relevant Focus: Psychological research on eco-anxiety and gender differences, especially climate-induced stress in women. 

B. SOLUTIONS & COMMUNITY-LED INTERVENTIONS  

1. Mahila Housing Trust (MHT) Region: Urban India (Jodhpur, Ahmedabad, etc.) Focus: Empowering women in slums and informal settlements to adapt to extreme heat through cooling roofs, reflective paint, early warning systems, and microfinance. Resource: Climate Resilience Initiatives  

2. Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) Region: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan Focus: Heat wave insurance and support for informal women workers. Resource: SEWA Heat Wave Insurance  

3. CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform Region: Odisha, pan-India Focus: Gender-responsive climate adaptation and heat stress workshops for women farmers. Initiative: Collaboration with IRRI and Mahila Housing Trust.  

4. International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Region: Odisha Focus: Workshops and training for women farmers to build resilience against heat stress.  

5. Good Business Lab Region: Tamil Nadu, pan-India Focus: Research and interventions to improve working conditions for women in factories, including heat stress mitigation.  

6. All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI) Region: Pan-India Focus: Heat adaptation finance and insurance for women workers; advocacy for insurance solutions in disaster-prone areas. Resource: Heat Adaptation Finance for Women  

7. cBalance Region: Pune, Bangalore Focus: Low-carbon cooling solutions for marginalised women; rooftop gardens, recycled coverings, and community engagement. Resource: Fair Cooling Fund  

8. SEEDS (Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society) Region: Pan-India Focus: Protecting vulnerable communities (elderly, children, women) during heatwaves; community-based early warning and response systems. Resource: Heatwave Resilience  

9. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) & Mahila Housing Trust Region: Jodhpur Focus: Citywide cool roof programs and heat action plans; collaboration for urban heat resilience.  

10. Net Zero Cooling Station (MHT & Jodhpur Nagar Nigam North) Region: Jodhpur Focus: Tech/cooling innovation; first-of-its-kind cooling station for the informal sector.  

11. Community Water Stations & Shade Structures Region: Urban/rural India Focus: Public infrastructure for relief in slums and markets; implemented by local governments and NGOs.  

12. Early Warning Systems (EWS) for Heatwaves Region: Pan-India Focus: Tech solution, disaster preparedness; mobile alerts and community radio for heatwave warnings.  

13. Cooling Shelters & On-the-Go Clinics Region: Urban/rural India Focus: Emergency response and health; temporary shelters and mobile clinics during heatwaves  

14. WRI India – Urban Greening Region: Mumbai, other cities. Focus: Urban cooling and green infrastructure; Mumbai Climate Action Plan, green roofs, vertical gardens, and urban forestry projects.  

15. UN Women & Mahila Housing Trust Partnership Region: Urban India Focus: Climate resilience in urban slums, led by women; women-led thermal comfort solutions and policy advocacy.  

16. Global Resilience Partnership & Mahila Housing Trust Region: India, Nepal, Bangladesh Focus: Scaling climate resilience in slums; programs on heat stress, floods, and water scarcity.  

17. ADRA India Region: Rajasthan, pan-India Focus: Community-led heat wave response for marginalised groups; Heatwave Response (PDF), emergency relief, cooling centres, and cash-based interventions.  

18. Transform Rural India Region: Rural India Focus: Gender and climate resilience in rural areas, with a focus on women in unorganised sectors.  

C. ADVOCACY, JOURNALISM, AND POLICY  

1. Centre for Budget and Policy Studies (CBPS) Region: Pan-India Focus: Heat stress and mental health among informal women workers; workshops and research for policy recommendations.  

2. BehanBox Region: Pan-India Focus: Investigative journalism on heat stress among women garment workers; reports on working conditions and health impacts.  

3. Indiaspend Region: Pan-India Focus: Investigative journalism on heat stress and home-based women workers; reports on policy neglect and living conditions.  

4. Global Campaign for Dalit Women Region: Pan-India Focus: Advocacy for Dalit and Adivasi women facing heat stress and marginalisation; grassroots organising and policy advocacy for marginalised women workers. Reference: BehanBox Coverage  

5. Asian Development Bank (ADB) Region: Asia/India Focus: Strengthening women’s resilience to heat stress; ADB Initiative to Strengthen Women’s Resilience, research, policy recommendations, and investments.  

6. Anticipation Hub Region: Pan-India Focus: Community perspectives on anticipatory action in heatwaves (partnering with ADRA India); community action and disaster preparedness.  

D. GUIDANCE, TOOLKITS, AND GLOBAL RESOURCES  

1. Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) Region: Pan-India Focus: Public health guidance; Heat Stress Management Guide (PDF), guidance on managing heat stress and related illnesses.  

2. World Economic Forum (WEF) Region: Global/India-relevant Focus: Quantifying the impact of climate change on human health, with a focus on women; reports and global advocacy.  

Help Us Build the Public Heat Stress Knowledge Bank!  

This list is curated by Oneworld Colab to spotlight outstanding research and interventions in the domain of heat stress, especially from a gender and social equity lens. 

If you have a resource, study, or solution to add, please comment below, tag your organisation, or message us directly. Let’s build a stronger, more inclusive knowledge bank—together.  

Note: Heat Stress Day is observed globally and in India on June 2. All links and resources are publicly available and verified as of May 2025.  

Citations: https://ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/web/direct-files/attachments/70466485/3b7921e5-279d-4fc0-be06-fa5ceddc6d14/paste.txt