Global warming to limit work hours of 800 million employees – study
MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED STATES — As global temperatures continue rising, 800 million people working outdoors in tropical regions face severe risks to their health and productivity, according to a new study.
The research, published in the Cell Press journal One Earth, warns that just 1°C of additional warming would force heavy labor limitations.
The study stated, “We show that under an additional 1C of warming, 800 million people in the tropics will live in areas where heavy work should be limited for over half of the hours in the year.”
Luke Parsons, a climate scientist at The Nature Conservancy and co-lead author, emphasized the urgency. “In many of the countries in the tropics, most of the working-age population participates in outdoor-centric sectors like construction, agriculture, fisheries, and forestry.”
“Some of the world’s highest population growth rates are also projected to occur in these regions, hence the number of people potentially exposed to future high heat and humidity who also work outdoors will probably rise alongside global temperatures, putting them at even greater risk,” he said.
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Under an additional 1°C of warming, ∼800M people in the tropics will live in areas where it is too hot and humid to conduct heavy work outside.@DukeU @nature_org @UW @Harvard @dartmouth @UCSanDiego @NASAJPL @iitgn @WorldFishCenter @Stanfordhttps://t.co/wos4ix6ZlC— One Earth (@OneEarth_CP) March 16, 2024
The potential consequences are dire, including productivity declines, heat illnesses, injuries, kidney damage, cardiovascular issues, and even death. The study urges policymakers and employers to take action.
“For instance, governments could institute early warning systems and mandate employers to provide cool-down rest areas or cooling stations, sufficient rest breaks, flexible work schedules, schedules to acclimatize new workers, and stop work activities during extreme heat events,” the report recommends.
Paid time off and medical assistance for heat-related illnesses are also suggested when compensation is unavailable.
A PwC survey revealed that CEOs fear that companies will not survive climate change, with many having no plans for a range of other climate actions.
Meanwhile, The European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E) previously criticized several high-profile companies, including Accenture, Wipro, Deloitte, IBM, and JP Morgan Chase, for not taking sufficient action to reduce the carbon footprint of their corporate air travel.
