Extreme heat is a growing public health concern that disproportionately affects certain disadvantaged communities. The situation calls for urgent action—placing adaptation and resilience-building on par with mitigation efforts. 

The communities that are most affected by extreme heat actively navigate and respond to challenging environments. Their perceptions, awareness, and lived experiences of harm offer important insights to align adaptation actions with on-ground realities.

We tried to understand these aspects through our study among Street vendors from Pune city. These informal urban outdoor workers are among the most vulnerable populations to heat-related impacts.

The working paper presents a firsthand account of the heat-related health experiences and economic strain experienced by street vendors. It describes how they cope as they navigate multiple vulnerabilities and balance competing risks. It further examines how cognitive processes, behavioral responses, and constraining conditions interact to shape this population's heat vulnerability.