One of the most visible climate change impacts in my community is urban flooding combined with extreme heat waves. Over the last few years, heavy rainfall events have become more intense and unpredictable, overwhelming drainage systems and leading to prolonged standing water in residential areas. At the same time, rising temperatures and heatwaves are increasing health risks, especially for outdoor workers, children, and the elderly.
These challenges affect daily mobility, housing, livelihoods, and public health. Flooding disrupts transportation, damages homes, contaminates water supplies, and increases mosquito-borne diseases. Heat waves strain electricity demand, reduce productivity, and worsen existing inequalities, as low-income households have less access to cooling.
Our community’s response so far has been mixed but evolving. Local authorities have begun improving drainage channels and issuing heatwave advisories, while communities are organizing awareness campaigns and neighborhood cleanup drives to reduce waste blocking drains. Individuals are also adapting through water conservation, rooftop plantation, and shifting work hours during extreme heat. However, long-term solutions such as resilient infrastructure, better land-use planning, and equitable climate policies are still urgently needed.
Overall, these experiences make climate change feel very real and immediate, not distant. They highlight how both environmental change and human decisions shape vulnerability and why community-centered adaptation is essential.