Heat stress, growth and inequality

“At 33–34°C, a worker operating at moderate work intensity loses 50 per cent of his or her work capacity.”

It’s easy to see this as just a macro issue – up to 5% of working hours are projected to be lost in parts of South Asia and West Africa by 2030 – but it goes to the heart of what we mean when we talk about fair and decent work.

As well as affecting GDP growth, heat stress exacerbates inequality and contributes to population displacement, meaning that it’s something we need to tackle if we are to create economies that are increasingly inclusive.

Read more from the ILO’s Working on a Warmer Planet Report.