Three ideas to beat the heat, and the people who made them happen
The article highlights how extreme heat impacts vulnerable workers, especially women, and shares three innovations to mitigate these harms. One example is Hansa Ahir, a waste recycler in Ahmedabad, India, whose income has been halved because it’s too dangerous to work in midday heat. To address this, she bought a low-cost insurance policy through the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), which compensates her when temperatures rise. This provides financial security for women like Ahir, who depend on daily wages. Additionally, tools like Extrema Global, a mobile app that helps people find cool routes and rest spots, protect those exposed to heat, including women balancing outdoor work and caregiving. Legal protections for outdoor workers, like farmworkers in Washington state, where laws entitle them to water, shade, and breaks, show how workers in agriculture and informal sectors are particularly vulnerable. Extreme heat exacerbates gender disparities in income, health, and safety, but practical solutions are emerging to help women and other laborers adapt.
