WHO and WMO Issue Urgent Warning: Workers Need Protection from Intensifying Heatwaves

  • 22/08/2025

The World Health Organization (WHO) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have issued a joint report urging urgent measures to protect workers worldwide from extreme heatwaves exacerbated by climate change. This is the WHO’s first dedicated report on workplace heat stress since 1969, described as a “wake-up call” by WHO Director Dr. Rüdiger Krech. The report emphasizes that prolonged exposure to heat above 38°C can cause severe health issues, including heatstroke, kidney failure, and dehydration.

Record-breaking temperatures in 2024—the hottest year on record—have intensified risks, particularly in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, where temperatures regularly exceed 40–50°C. The report notes that productivity declines by 2% for every degree above 20°C, with heat also increasing accident rates due to fatigue and poor concentration. Vulnerable sectors like construction and agriculture require immediate safeguards, such as adjusted work hours and improved conditions.

Beyond workplaces, schools, the elderly, and chronically ill individuals face heightened dangers. Some European schools now implement “heat-free days” or relocate classes to cooler areas, but long-term solutions like better ventilation and air conditioning are needed. The report calls for collaborative efforts among governments, employers, and communities to implement adaptive strategies, including heat-resistant uniforms, revised schedules, and cooler building designs.

Despite the urgency, many governments prioritize other spending over climate adaptation. The WHO and WMO warn that underinvestment in heat resilience threatens both public health and economic stability, urging policymakers to treat extreme heat as a critical operational and humanitarian challenge.

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