Millions of Job loss due to Global Warming, ILO Released the report "Working on Warmer Planet"

According to the report released by International Labour Organisation (ILO), by 2030 around the globe there is loss of 80 million of Full time jobs due to temperature rise. It is projected on the base of global temperature rise of 1.5 degree by the end of this century that would loss to 2.2% working hour’s loss worldwide by 2030. As per the report India is the most effected country due to this temperature rise, by 2030 there will be loss of 5.8% working hour’s equivalent to 34 million of full time job loss. All these projections released on its report  ”Working on warmer planet” which tells about the effects of heat stress on labour productivity and economic loss due to global warming.

Heat stress worldwide in 2085

Heat stress

Report described the heat stress as a heat received in excess of that which the body can tolerate without suffering physiological impairment. This excess heat stress somehow increase workers occupational health risk and vulnerability, sometime leads to heat strokes and even death. Heat stress generally occurs at the temperature above 35 degree Celsius and rise in humidity. These conditions results into the restriction of physical functions, work capacity, and productivity of the workers or labours. Due to this productivity loss and reduced labour capacity there is 2400 billion US dollar global GDP ecomnimic loss. If global warming continues till the end of 2030, it diminishes the labour's productivity even further. 

In response to the global warming and the conditions which enhances the health risks to workers, authorities should adapt some policies and actions; prepare a strategy to handle this climate change and limit the global temperature rise; contribute to the sustainable economic development.

Sectors affected

If we talk about the sectors affected due to heat stress, the report mentioned that all sector workers are affected. But some occupations are at high risk because they have lots of physical work outdoors. Severely affected sectors are agriculture, construction, transport, tourism, sports, and repair and maintenance work. The workers who works in industries or factories are also at high risk if the temperature level rises inside their work space. Even the office employees who have desk tasks also effected due to mental fatigue. 

Regions most effected by Heat stress

Southern Asia and Western Africa are the worst affected regions, as per the report “heat stress in these two sub-regions would lead to loss of 5.3% and 4.8% of working hours in 2030 corresponding to around 43 million and 9 million full time jobs respectively”. The European sub-regions experience smaller impact of heat stress in comparison to Southern Asia and Western Africa with their productivity losses projected to be less that 0.1%.