The Impact of Extreme Heat on Dhaka's Informal Workers
On June 28, as the sun beat down on the Tejgaon neighborhood in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, Samiha Begum gathered her two children and headed to the shade of Hatirjheel Lake. Her one-room home in a nearby slum had become unbearable. She said: "The room starts heating up as soon as the sun rises. Even if it rains in the morning, the heat becomes like a furnace when the sun comes out. My children can't stay inside after coming back from school. So, I come to the lake and take the shade of the trees. Here, the air is fresher than in my house".
Like Samiha Begum, for millions of informal workers across Bangladesh, extreme heat is no longer just a seasonal discomfort. It's becoming a growing threat to health, livelihoods, and survival.
The Reality of Informal Workers in Dhaka
Samiha Begum works as a cook in a family home near her slum. A new study by People’s Courage International (PCI) on informal workers in South and Southeast Asia found that 74% of migrants interviewed in Dhaka reported being negatively affected by rising temperatures, making heat one of the city's top climate threats.
The study also found that 100% of migrants interviewed in Dhaka reported being affected by extreme climate events, highlighting the growing vulnerability of low-income urban residents. The researchers analyzed the reality of informal workers in five cities: Dhaka, Delhi, Jakarta, Kathmandu, and Quezon City and "how the precariousness of their lives and livelihoods is being dangerously intensified due to heat".
The Mechanism Behind Extreme Heat in Dhaka
Extreme heat in Dhaka is caused by a combination of factors, including urbanization, air pollution, and climate change. The city is experiencing rapid population growth, which is leading to the expansion of urban areas and the loss of green spaces. This, in turn, is contributing to the urban heat island effect, where urban areas become significantly hotter than surrounding rural areas.
The Broader Context of Extreme Heat in Dhaka
Extreme heat in Dhaka is not an isolated phenomenon. It's part of a broader pattern of climate change affecting cities around the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), extreme heat is one of the leading causes of climate-related death, and is responsible for thousands of deaths every year.
What Happens Next
It's essential that Dhaka authorities and other municipal governments take steps to mitigate the effects of extreme heat on informal workers. This can include creating worker protection programs, improving urban infrastructure, and promoting climate change adaptation practices.
Final Conclusions
Extreme heat in Dhaka is a growing challenge for the health and survival of informal workers. It's essential that measures are taken to mitigate its effects and promote climate change adaptation. This requires an integrated approach, including improving urban infrastructure, promoting adaptation practices, and protecting informal workers.
Source / Reference
This article was originally published on Mongabay.