The All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI) studied the impacts of extreme heat on 150 small businesses across five Indian cities: Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Kolkata, Rewa, and Cochin.

Key Findings

• 95.3% reported income loss due to extreme heat.
• 68% of respondents were women.
• 62% reported increased energy and cooling costs.
• 52.7% experienced heat-related illness.
• 92.3% reported improved working conditions following Resilience Fund support.

The study highlights how extreme heat affects income, health, productivity, and business continuity. It also demonstrates how small, flexible financial support can help vulnerable businesses adopt practical cooling and protective measures.

Way Forward: Integrate small businesses into Heat Action Plans, expand locally accessible adaptation finance, and strengthen livelihood protection against heat-related loss and damage.