The World Health Organization (WHO) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have issued a stark warning on the growing dangers of extreme heat for workers worldwide. Their new joint report Climate Change and Workplace Heat Stress, reveals how rising global temperatures are reshaping work environments, threatening health, and undermining economic stability.
Extreme Heat Already Impacting Billions
The findings highlight a sharp increase in the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, with daytime temperatures exceeding 40°C and in some regions, even 50°C becoming more common. The year 2024 was the hottest ever recorded, according to WMO.
Health consequences of prolonged heat exposure include heatstroke, dehydration, kidney damage, neurological issues, and a steep decline in productivity. Worker output, the report notes, drops by 2–3% for every degree above 20°C, posing major challenges for labor-intensive sectors such as agriculture, construction, fisheries, and manufacturing.
WHO estimates that nearly half the global population is already feeling the effects of high temperatures, with children, the elderly, low-income communities, and people with chronic illnesses among the hardest hit.
“Heat stress is already harming the health and livelihoods of billions of workers, especially in the most vulnerable communities,” said Dr. Jeremy Farrar, WHO’s Assistant Director-General. “This guidance provides evidence-based solutions to protect lives and build resilient workforces.”
An Economic and Policy Challenge
The WMO stressed that this is not just a health crisis but also an economic threat. Rising medical expenses, productivity losses, and absenteeism are weakening growth and risk reversing progress on poverty reduction and public health.
To counter this, the report recommends integrating occupational heat action plans into climate and health strategies. Suggested steps include developing workplace heat-health policies tailored to local risks, prioritizing vulnerable groups, training employers and health professionals to better recognize heat-related illness, and investing in affordable technologies such as cooling systems and protective workplace designs.
The guidance also builds on International Labour Organization (ILO) data showing that 2.4 billion workers are already exposed to excessive heat, contributing to more than 22.8 million occupational injuries each year.
ILO’s Chief of Occupational Safety and Health, Joaquim Pintado Nunes, called the report “a milestone” in tackling the risks of climate change at work, stressing that safe working environments are a fundamental right.
Call for Immediate Action
Experts warn that waiting too long could have devastating consequences. Without urgent measures, billions of workers could face worsening health problems, reduced life expectancy, and declining incomes.
“Protecting workers from heat stress is a matter of dignity, equality, and survival,” said Dr. Farrar. “Inaction is no longer an option.”