India’s future climate resilience will depend on its ability to build a public healthcare system that recognises heat as a highly gendered disaster

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Women’s bodies respond differently to heat stress at a physiological level. Hormonal fluctuations, body composition, and metabolic rates all affect thermoregulation, making women more susceptible to dehydration, fatigue, and heat-related illness. Pregnant women face even greater risks due to the additional physiological demands placed on the body during pregnancy. In rural and peri-urban areas where access to prenatal care is limited, heat waves add to the challenges faced by already fragile maternal health systems. Extreme heat causes premature births, low birth weight, stillbirths, and problems for the mother. Studies across India show more bad outcomes for pregnancies as temperatures rise, especially in places where there’s no cooling infrastructure or adequate health care.

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This policy vacuum exposes a more general problem of climate governance. Women are often cited as vulnerable groups; however, they are seldom placed at the centre of climate planning and decision-making. Women are not just victims of climate stress; they are also central to adaptation and resilience. Women-led self-help groups, local health workers and community networks are already playing major roles in water access management, health awareness and local climate responses in many parts of India. Integrating these networks into heat adaption techniques can greatly increase community resilience.

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