Global warming is set to cost the world economy more than £1.5 trillion a year in lost productivity by 2030 as it becomes too hot to work in many jobs, according to a major new report by the United Nations University and UN Development Programme.
In just 14 years’ time in India, the bill will be £340bn a year. China is predicted similar losses, while other countries among the worst affected include Indonesia (£188bn), Malaysia (£188bn) and Thailand (£113bn).
China is predicted to experience similar losses, while other countries among the worst affected include Indonesia (£188bn), Malaysia (£188bn) and Thailand (£113bn).
Dr Tord Kjellstrom, the author of the paper said, “The effect of heat on people’s daily lives and particular on their work has not been given enough attention. If you are physically active in work, the hotter it is, the slower you work. Your body adapts to the heat and in doing that it protects you from the heat. For individual countries, even within a short timespan, the losses due to the increasing heat can be in the many billions.”
However he said reducing emissions now could still have a significant impact after that date. “Beyond 2050, it will make a big difference if we take action now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally,” Dr Kjellstrom said.
“I think personally that the need for mitigation, which means to reduce climate change, has not been given enough focus. It’s quite urgent because the action needs to be taken now, not 40 years from now.” He added.
In an introduction to the papers, published in a special edition of the Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, Professor Jamal Hashim and Dr José Siri, both of the UN University, wrote that humanity was facing “substantial health risks from the degradation of the natural life support systems which are critical for human survival”.
However Professor Jamal added that there were some reasons for optimism.“I think there’s less argument now about whether there actually is climate change,” he said. “At last we are over the stage of quarrelling about whether there actually is climate change.”
Courtesy: Independent
