Overview

• Drawing on five decades of evidence, the report says roughly half of the global population is suffering adverse effects from high temperatures.
• More than 2.4 billion workers face excessive heat exposure, contributing to over 22.85 million occupational injuries each year, according to ILO figures cited.
• Health risks span heatstroke, dehydration, kidney dysfunction, cardiovascular strain and neurological effects, affecting outdoor and many indoor workplaces.
• The agencies note 2024 was the hottest year on record and report productivity drops of about 2–3% for every degree Celsius above 20°C.
• Governments and employers are urged to implement occupational heat action plans with measures such as scheduled breaks, cooling and hydration, shift adjustments and buddy systems, with attention to higher-latitude regions like Canada.