23 September 2014: An article published by the UN University (UNU) argues that the economic case for climate action is further strengthened by heat-related labor productivity losses resulting from climate change, which amount to billions of US dollars. While the physiological limits of human beings exposed to heat when working have long been studied in public health science, scientists and economists have only recently begun paying attention to their links to climate change, according to environmental and occupational health scientist Tord Kjellstrom.
The article, titled ‘Productivity Losses Ignored in Economic Analysis of Climate Change,’ reviews existing literature and analyses on the links between climatic conditions, economic performance and sustainable development. It also outlines key questions in need of attention, and underscores the importance of resilience-building, adaptation and mitigation.
Noting that a clear relationship has been established between workplace heat conditions, economic performance and sustainable development, the article refers to a study from 2012, which estimated the increased cost of heat-induced labor productivity losses globally at approximately US$2 trillion in 2030. The ten worst affected regions are located in Asia, Africa, Oceania, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Among key issues deserving urgent attention, the article mentions: strengthening economic performance while tackling climate change challenges; broadening the climate change discourse to cover economic and social perspectives; calculating the economic impacts of extreme weather events and sea-level rise; and charting transformations required for ensuring a healthy planet while fostering climate-resilient economies.
In addition to mitigation, the article calls for attention to climate vulnerability and loss and damage as important human security and rights issues, especially in tropical and sub-tropical low- and middle-income countries, which have had a low contribution to ongoing climate change. It stresses the need to consider how these countries can: build resilience against hot climate conditions; protect workers from high heat; apply “green technology” for limiting emissions; and participate in research and analysis that builds evidence on the impact of climate change on economic progress.
The UNU’s International Institute of Global Health (UNU-IIGH) and Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) are conducting research on climate change impacts on health and human security. [UNU Publications Webpage] [Publication: Productivity Losses Ignored in Economic Analysis of Climate Change]