The United Nations has called on governments and employers to take urgent measures to safeguard workers from the growing threat of heat stress, warning that climate change is making heatwaves more frequent, intense, and deadly.
In a joint report released Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said rising global temperatures are already reducing worker productivity and worsening health risks, particularly in vulnerable populations and labor-intensive industries.
According to the report, worker productivity drops by 2–3% for every degree above 20°C, with nearly half of the world’s population already suffering from extreme heat impacts. Health consequences linked to prolonged exposure include heatstroke, dehydration, kidney dysfunction, and neurological disorders.
Manual laborers in agriculture, construction, and fisheries, as well as children and older adults in developing countries, are particularly at risk.
“Protection of workers from extreme heat is not just a health imperative but an economic necessity,” said Ko Barrett, WMO Deputy Secretary-General.
The agencies recommended the development of heat action plans tailored to specific industries and regions, involving input from workers, employers, unions, and public health experts. They also urged governments to strengthen education for health workers and first responders, as heat stress often goes misdiagnosed.
Unions in some countries have pushed for legal maximum working temperatures, which the agencies acknowledged as an option, though they noted standards would need to vary depending on local conditions.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) recently estimated that 2.4 billion workers are currently exposed to excessive heat globally, leading to over 22.8 million occupational injuries annually.
“No-one should have to risk kidney failure or collapse just to earn a living,” said Rüdiger Krech, WHO’s acting director for environment, climate change and health.
The report marks the first major global guidance on heat stress in over five decades, with experts stressing that the need for action has never been more urgent as the world continues to warm.
Written By Rodney Mbua
