US EditionUN Says Workers' Health 'Severely Impacted' by Rising Heat
More than 2.4 billion workers face health risks and productivity losses due to extreme heat from climate change, with vulnerable sectors needing urgent protective measures, UN says.
- On Aug 22, the United Nations urged governments and employers to take urgent action on rising heat risks, joined by WHO and WMO in releasing updated guidance linking heat to worker health impacts.
- Climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and intense, prompting the International Labour Organization to find more than 2.4 billion workers face excessive heat, causing over 22.85 million injuries annually.
- The report found worker productivity falls by 2–3% for every degree above 20°C, with heat causing heatstroke, dehydration, kidney dysfunction and neurological disorders among manual workers in agriculture, construction and fisheries.
- The UN recommended occupational heat action plans tailored to industries and regions and developed with workers, employers, unions and public health experts, with Joaquim Pintado Nunes saying `Investing in effective, preventive and protective strategies would save the world several billion dollars every single year`.
- Drawing on five decades of research, the report says vulnerable populations—middle-aged and older workers, individuals with chronic conditions, and those with lower physical fitness—should be prioritised as half the global population suffers heat harms.
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The Washington Hispanic
focoinformativo.siteThe rise in global temperatures is "severely" impacting the health and productivity of workers, the UN warned Friday, urging immediate action. Extreme heat poses growing challenges in the workplace, according to UN health and climate agencies, when publishing a guide for governments, employers and health authorities in order to mitigate risks. "It is now necessary to act to address the increasingly serious effects of the caloric overload on work…
Workers need protection from heatwaves, UN should take urgent action
The United Nations on Friday urged governments and employers to act swiftly to safeguard workers whose health is at growing risk from extreme heat. With climate change driving more frequent and severe heatwaves, laborers around the world are already facing serious health consequences. In a long-overdue update to guidance last issued in 1969, UN agencies stressed the urgent need for stronger protections. Eliza Herbert reports.
UN: Rising heat 'severely' impacting workers' health
GENEVA, Switzerland — Rising global temperatures are having an ever-worsening impact on the health and productivity of workers, the United Nations said on Friday, urging immediate action to tackle the dangers of heat stress.
How does climate change affect workers? The UN organisations WHO and WMO have investigated this. Not only people with open-air professions are affected.
Channel News Asia
terradaily.comUN says workers' health 'severely impacted' by rising heat
GENEVA: Rising global temperatures are having an ever-worsening impact on the health and productivity of workers, the United Nations said on Friday (Aug 22), urging immediate action to tackle the dangers of heat stress. Extreme heat is posing growing challenges in the workplace, the UN's health and climate
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