The study serves as the first comprehensive analysis connecting climate change, public health outcomes, and national economic stability.

A landmark report by Adelphi Global, titled Heat, Health and Increasing Cost of Living: A Call for Action, has exposed the devastating economic consequences of rising temperatures on the global workforce. Across eight surveyed nations including India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nigeria, Brazil, France, Italy, and South Africa, extreme heat is forcing millions of laborers in agriculture and construction to lose at least 20 working days annually. This reduction in labor capacity is creating a profound financial strain on families already struggling to survive.

The study serves as the first comprehensive analysis connecting climate change, public health outcomes, and national economic stability. It highlights that the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves are directly linked to the combustion of fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and gas. Recent record-breaking thermal events are deemed virtually impossible without the accelerating influence of these climate drivers.

For India, the impact is particularly acute. The agriculture and construction sectors form the foundation of the national economy, yet they are the most vulnerable to thermal stress. Daily wage laborers in these fields are facing a direct reduction in purchasing power, which limits their ability to afford essential food and healthcare services.

Without urgent, targeted interventions to protect outdoor workers, the financial burden on individual households and national economies will escalate rapidly. The report warns that the current path of inaction risks permanent damage to the livelihoods of the world’s most vulnerable populations.