Governments and employers should take urgent action to help protect the health of workers who are increasingly exposed to extreme heat, the United Nations said on Friday (August 22).

Climate change is making heatwaves more common and intense, and workers worldwide are already experiencing the health impacts, the agencies said in what they described as a “much needed” major update of a report and guidance last published in 1969.

Worker productivity drops by 2-3% for every degree above 20°C, the report said, with half of the world’s population already suffering the adverse consequences of high temperatures.

The health risks include heatstroke, dehydration, kidney dysfunction and neurological disorders, said the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Association.

Manual workers in sectors like agriculture, construction and fisheries, as well as vulnerable populations like children and older adults in developing countries, were particularly at risk, they added.

"No-one should have to risk kidney failure or collapse just to earn a living," said Rüdiger Krech, director ad interim for environment, climate change and health at the WHO, at a press conference ahead of the report’s release.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

COMMENTS FROM PRESS CONFERENCE ON JOINT REPORT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND WORKPLACE HEAT STRESS, FILE OF WORKERS IN DIFFERENT SECTORS

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: RE-FILING EDIT WITH SOUNDBITES IN BETTER QUALITY

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - JULY 7, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. WORKERS WORKING AT CONSTRUCTION SITE

2. WORKER SETTING UP PLATE ON SCAFFOLDING

3. WORKER SORTING OUT MATERIALS WHILE WEARING VESTS EQUIPPED WITH FANS

4. WORKERS TAKING BREAK

5. WORKER WIPING HEAD AND FACE WITH TOWEL

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (FILE - MAY 1, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

6. VARIOUS OF EXTERIORS OF WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION HEADQUARTERS

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (FILE - JANUARY 15, 2020) (REUTERS - Access all)

7. EXTERIOR OF WORLD METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE HEADQUARTERS

8. SIGNAGE ON BUILDING

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (AUGUST 21, 2025) (WHO - No resale)

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WHO INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH, RUEDIGER KRECH, SAYING:

"Billions of people are already exposed to dangerous heat at work, elevating their risk to heat stroke, dehydration, kidney disease and other serious illnesses. In agriculture, construction and other physically demanding sectors, we're seeing a clear rise in heat stroke, dehydration, and long-term kidney and cardiovascular damage due to dangerous working conditions."

TUNIS, TUNISIA (FILE - MAY 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

10. VARIOUS OF FEMALE FARMERS AT WORK IN FIELDS

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (AUGUST 21, 2025) (WHO - No resale)

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WHO INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH, RUEDIGER KRECH, SAYING:

"No one should have to risk kidney failure or collapse just to earn their living. Protecting workers from heat is a matter of life and death. It's not just about temperature, it's about inequality. The poorest workers are on the front lines of the climate crisis."

LAHORE, PAKISTAN (FILE - MAY 22, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

12. VARIOUS OF WORKER CARRYING BRICKS ON HIS BACK UP STAIRS

13. WORKER WIPING HIS FACE WITH CLOTH

14. WORKER SHOVELLING CEMENT

15. WORKER MIXING MORTAR

16. WORKER DRINKING

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (AUGUST 21, 2025) (WHO - No resale)

17. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WHO INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH, RUEDIGER KRECH, SAYING:

"The workers keeping our societies running are paying the highest price. These impacts are especially severe in vulnerable communities with limited access to cooling, healthcare and protective labour policies. Protecting workers from extreme heat is not only a health priority, it is essential to building resilient, equal and sustainable societies in a warming world."

PERAMA, GREECE (FILE - JULY 25, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

18. VARIOUS OF WORKER WELDING METAL IN SHIPYARD

19. VARIOUS OF ELECTRICIAN WORKING

SEMARANG, INDONESIA (FILE - JULY 18, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

20. GARMENT WORKERS AT WORK INSIDE FACTORY

21. VARIOUS OF WORKER WORKING ON SEWING MACHINE

22. VARIOUS OF WORKER ADDING DETAILS TO DENIM CLOTHING