ACCESS4ALL Group

One climate change–induced impact that is increasingly affecting my local community is extreme heat and water stress, especially during summer months. Rising temperatures, prolonged heatwaves, and irregular rainfall patterns have made heat stress a serious concern for daily life, livelihoods, and public health.

These conditions pose multiple challenges. Outdoor workers, students, and elderly people face higher risks of heat exhaustion and dehydration. Water scarcity affects households, agriculture, and urban infrastructure, leading to conflicts over water access and increased dependence on groundwater. Heat also strains electricity supply due to higher cooling demand, impacting low-income communities the most.

In response, communities and local authorities have begun adapting in small but meaningful ways. Measures such as water conservation campaigns, rainwater harvesting, plantation drives, revised school timings during heatwaves, and promotion of heat-action plans are becoming more common. At the individual level, people are modifying daily routines, conserving water, and adopting heat-resilient practices. However, stronger long-term planning and climate-resilient infrastructure are still urgently needed.