The Hum of Summer Nights – Women’s Experiences of Urban Heat
“Relentless heat makes outdoor activities a distant memory”: Seven women recount their experiences managing daily life under extreme urban heat in cities across the Middle East in an article authored by Marie Munzert, Lina Saleh Suleiman Abu Salim, and Emma Greer. The piece explores the unique challenges faced by women in Jeddah, As-Salt, Amman, and Dubai. In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a mother struggles with sleepless nights due to oppressive heat that impacts her children’s health and restricts outdoor activities. In As-Salt, Jordan, a woman selling vegetables at an outdoor market faces losses as the intense heat damages her produce and drains her energy, making her daily routine both physically and economically taxing. In Amman, Jordan, while evenings offer some respite, the heat affects the livelihoods of female vendors who miss market opportunities to care for their families. Safety concerns also limit their travel options at night. In Dubai, UAE, despite the availability of air conditioning, the relentless heat disrupts daily life, forcing families, including children, indoors and limiting outdoor play and school activities. The article highlights how pervasive urban heat disproportionately affects women and vulnerable groups, restricting economic opportunities, increasing health risks, and altering social dynamics. It emphasizes the importance of visibility and awareness of these impacts, urging local authorities to use tools like Cities Alliance’s Her4Climate to gather individual data and include marginalized voices in urban planning and develop climate-adaptive, inclusive cities.
