Data from the International Labour Organization (ILO) indicates that over 70% of the global workforce was exposed to extreme temperatures in 2020, which is an increase of nearly 9% since 2000.
According to a reporter in Geneva, on July 25th (local time), the International Labour Organization (ILO) released a report showing that an increasing number of workers are facing heat stress, even in temperate regions, and warned that humanity is enduring an “extreme temperature pandemic.”
People swimming to cool off from the heat in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 18. (Photo: THX).
Data from the ILO also shows that over 70% of the global workforce was exposed to extreme temperatures in 2020, marking an increase of nearly 9% compared to the year 2000. In a report analyzing temperature by region, the ILO found that Africa was the most severely affected, with nearly 93% of workers facing excessive heat in the workplace, followed by Arab countries at 83.6%, and the Asia-Pacific region at 74.7%.
However, at a time when climate change is believed to be causing global temperatures to rise higher than ever, with last year being the hottest on record, the ILO stated that the fastest changes in working conditions are occurring in regions that are typically not affected by extreme heat.
The report indicates that the level of exposure to extreme temperatures in the workplace has increased the most in Europe and Central Asia, rising by 17.3 percentage points over two decades to reach 29%. Additionally, the Americas, along with Europe and Central Asia, were found to have the fastest-growing rates of heat-related occupational injuries, increasing by 33.3 and 16.4 percentage points, respectively, over the past two decades.
These findings were released following a warning from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, stating: “Billions of people are facing an extreme heat wave, confronting risks as temperatures rise to 50 degrees Celsius in many parts of the world.”
Furthermore, the ILO report warns that: “Countries that were previously unaccustomed to extreme heat will face new threats for which they may not be adequately equipped to cope, while conditions in areas already enduring prolonged high temperatures will only worsen the situation.”
At the global level, nearly 23 million heat-related occupational injuries are reported each year. The report emphasizes: “Heat is an invisible force – a silent killer. The hazards of heat for both indoor and outdoor work increase the risk of health impacts such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory issues, and more.”
The report highlights the impact of heat waves, which accounted for about 10% of total excess heat exposure worldwide in 2020. According to the ILO report, a total of 231 million workers endured heat stress in 2020, a 66% increase since 2000.
