Protecting workers from extreme heat in urban informal settlements

Extreme heat is one of the fastest-growing threats to human health, and workers in low-income urban communities are among the most exposed. As global temperatures rise, the ability of outdoor and indoor laborers to safely do their jobs is increasingly at risk, yet little research has examined how heat affects workers in informal settlements, or which interventions could realistically protect them. 

This project will work within an established research site in informal settlements in Makassar, Indonesia, to measure how heat exposure affects workers in different settings, identify promising solutions, and test personal heat-mitigation interventions in real workplace conditions. The findings will be used to advance scientific understanding, attract investment, inspire entrepreneurs, and raise the visibility of heat as a serious and addressable threat to worker health and economic security in the communities most vulnerable to climate change.

Above: The business district in Makassar city. Image credit: adiartana / iStock