Smog, Heatwaves, and the Feminized Face of Climate Distress: Psychological, Geographical, and Engineering Perspectives of Women’s Vulnerability in Central Punjab

Ayesha Jabbar; Amina Mauzzam; Sahar Zia; Ali Hussain Kazim

Authors

Ayesha Jabbar University of Okara, Department of Psychology, Okara, 53600, Pakistan
Amina Mauzzam Lahore College for Women University, Department of Appplied Psychology, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
Sahar Zia Lahore College for Women Univpersity, Department of Geography, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
Ali Hussain Kazim University of Engineering and Technology, Automotive Engineering Centre, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan

Keywords:

Climate Change, Women’s Vulnerability, Climate Distress, Urban Geography, Environmental Engineering

Abstract

In Central Punjab, Pakistan, the rising impacts of climate change, especially frequent heat waves and smog, pose extreme risks to human health. Their impact on women is not gender-neutral; in highly populated regions with socioeconomic limitations, women are disproportionately affected. This study adopts an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating psychology, geography, and environmental engineering to assess women’s vulnerability to climate change. Based on a qualitative research design, in-depth interviews were conducted with women of different ages, professions, and socioeconomic statuses in the urban and semi-urban districts of Central Punjab. Thematic analysis revealed three main areas of vulnerability: psychological distress, risks associated with geography, and inadequate infrastructure. Women frequently experienced increased anxiety, helplessness, and trauma linked to long-term exposure to extreme heat and environmental pollution. Geographical mapping of participants’ residences showed that women living in low-income areas faced greater exposure due to congested housing, lack of green cover, and high levels of vehicle emissions. Their susceptibility was further exacerbated by engineering-related shortcomings, such as poor ventilation, ineffective early warning systems, and unsafe transport in urban environments. These overlapping stressors collectively limited women’s mobility, increased their role strain, and weakened their ability to adapt. The results highlight the urgent need for gender-sensitive, climate-resilient infrastructure and public health interventions. The integration of psychological support, inclusive urban planning, and community sensitization is essential to strengthen women’s resilience to climate-related risks. This interdisciplinary perspective underscores that addressing climate distress requires closing social, spatial, and technological gaps to reduce the disproportionate burden women face from increasing environmental degradation.

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