Urban heat through local lenses: Perception, Adaptation and Community-driven resilience

Climate change has intensified the Urban Heat Island Effect (UHIE), disproportionately impacting vulnerable urban populations. While Heat Vulnerability Indices (HVIs) and Heat Action Plans (HAPs) aim to mitigate these effects, the lack of community engagement in understanding perceptions and adaptive behaviors creates a disconnect between policies and ground realities. This study bridges this gap by examining how vulnerable communities in Delhi perceive and cope with urban heat stress, aligning mitigation strategies with their firsthand experiences and traditional practices.

A random sampling-based in-person, semi-structured survey was conducted from May to July 2024 across five highly vulnerable neighborhoods in Delhi identified through an HVI. These areas, home to low-income groups, minorities, and marginalized communities, were assessed for their socio-cultural, infrastructural, and urban design contexts. The survey (n=56) included participants from diverse occupations such as outdoor workers, small-business owners, and vendors, with 78% aged 18–60 years and 20% above 60 years.

Findings revealed that 51% of participants experienced heat stress disruptions in daily routines, while 64% reported increased health-related expenses, particularly among daily wage earners. About 55% suffered from dehydration, headaches, and heatstroke, alongside psychological stress. Adaptation strategies included adjusting work hours, seeking shade in local parks (often poorly maintained), or traveling to greener areas in wealthier neighborhoods.

Community-driven initiatives played a crucial role in coping with extreme heat, rooted in cultural traditions of mutual aid. Examples include public pyaus (earthen pots) offering free water, gurdwaras distributing rose milk and water as part of Sikh sewa (selfless service), and mosques providing free food and water during heatwaves.

This study highlights the need to integrate community-driven adaptations, traditional knowledge, and local perceptions into heat resilience policies. Strengthening green infrastructure and scaling grassroots initiatives through government-community collaboration is essential for sustainable urban heat mitigation.