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Avatar 1: hello there and Welcome to our EGreenNews Conversations.
Avatar 2: Pleasure to be here with you today. Avatar 1: What topics are we covering today? Avatar 2: Today, we’re setting the stage for a series that goes beyond the headlines. This whole month We’ll be chatting about extreme heat—how it’s quietly becoming one of the most pressing risks facing our cities.
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Avatar 1: Exactly. You know, when people talk about disasters, they picture storms or floods. But heat actually threatens our communities in so many more ways—mortality rates, labor losses, even daily health. Avatar 2: Absolutely. Just last season, we saw more heat-related emergencies than storms—but so many impacts go unseen. I’m always struck by how widespread those effects are: city services, food systems, businesses, and, of course, our most vulnerable populations.
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Avatar 1: Right—because heat doesn’t strike all neighborhoods equally. Some residents are far more exposed. And as city leaders, we have to ask: how do we protect everyone, especially those with the least resources? Avatar 2: We’ll dig into that. There are incredible stories—cities investing in public cooling, families struggling with energy costs, even schools adjusting schedules. It’s all connected, isn’t it? Avatar 1: It really is. We’ll also look at how heat affects things you might not expect—crime rates, learning outcomes, mental health. I spoke with someone recently who said, “We lose sleep, we lose peace of mind, we lose productivity.” That stuck with me. Avatar 2: And we can’t forget about the environment. Marine heatwaves, loss of green space, changes to our food supply—they become everyday challenges, not abstract threats. Avatar 1: Throughout this series, we’ll share new solutions: passive cooling with trees and building design, smarter policies, innovative financing, even early warning systems. It’s about real strategies for real leaders.
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so Welcome back to our EGreenNews Conversations. Soo, In this episode, we're digging into one of the most pressing issues for every city leader: the economic impact of heat compared to other extreme weather events.
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It’s a huge question. Heatwaves, hurricanes, floods—they all hurt economies, but heat is emerging as the invisible giant. Did you know heat in the U.S. alone now costs over $100 billion a year in lost labor productivity?
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That figure is staggering. For context, that’s $35-40 billion more each year than the total losses from the entire record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season—including all physical damages, lost activity, and health costs.
businesses, and, of course, our most vulnerable populations.
Avatar 2: Hummmmm, Exactly! and if Just in case you missed it, you’re listening to EGreenews Conversations. But Why does heat have such a high price tag? It disrupts everything. Workers slow down outdoors, businesses lose hours, public services get stretched. Do you see this in your city, too?
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Absolutely. Every heatwave feels like a hidden economic emergency. Hospitals fill up, outdoor work stalls, and costs ripple through every sector. The health impacts don’t just cost lives—they cost city budgets.
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Let’s put this global. The monetized value of global heat-related mortality for people over 65 was 0.27% of the world’s GDP in 2018 and rose again in 2019. In Europe alone, heat-related mortality costs in 2020 matched the average income of 6.1 million citizens—0.66% of regional GDP.
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And the picture is worse in developing nations—South-East Asia saw growing losses while Europe’s dipped only due to fewer deaths. So, does heat only hit the global South, or is this everyone’s problem?
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It’s everywhere. In the U.S., losses could double to $200 billion by 2030—and hit $500 billion by 2050 if we don’t adapt. Outdoor workers especially suffer: 7.6 million U.S. construction and extraction workers risk losing nearly $1,900 yearly by midcentury just from extreme heat.
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That means entire communities—already stretched thin—face growing income gaps. By midcentury, U.S. outdoor workers risk collectively losing $55 billion in earnings each year unless things change.
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But it’s not just America. Globally, we lost 470 billion hours of potential work in 2021 due to heat—a 37% jump since the 1990s. The financial hit? About $669 billion, or 0.7% of gross world product, last year alone.
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Those losses escalate in agriculture and lower-income countries. In low Human Development Index (HDI) countries, 82% of lost work hours were in agriculture—and average lost earnings hit 5.6% of their GDP. For a mayor or municipal manager, that’s a national emergency.
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Looking ahead, with just 1.3°C of warming, we’re projecting a global loss of 2.2% of working hours due to heat—equivalent to 80 million full-time jobs and $2.4 trillion in lost purchasing power by 2030.
Avatar 1: That is a great point! So maybe the folks at egreenews need to check that right?
Those losses escalate in agriculture and lower-income countries. In low Human Development Index (HDI) countries, 82% of lost work hours were in agriculture—and average lost earnings hit 5.6% of their GDP. For a mayor or municipal manager, that’s a national emergency.
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Avatar 2: So If you lead in a low or lower-middle income country, brace yourself: projections show up to 5% GDP losses just from heat-related productivity reductions. India alone could face a $450 billion hit to its economy by 2030. That’s a challenge for policymakers everywhere.
Avatar 2: Exactly so The numbers don’t stop there. In specific countries—India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan—work hour losses are two to three times the global average. In just one heatwave, Australia lost nearly half a percent of national GDP.
Avatar 1: And by the way, welcome back to our egreenews conversations. So lets come back to our topic and think that climate doesn’t wait. The International Labour Organization projects that by 2030, up to 80 million full-time jobs could be lost worldwide to heat stress—hitting rural, agricultural, and outdoor workers first and hardest.
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Let’s not skip gender. Globally, women in rural or informal sectors—textiles, food preparation—are especially vulnerable, particularly in slum communities where work happens at home without cooling. If you count unpaid labor, women bear the brunt: heat-related labor losses grow by 260% for women, compared to 76% for men.
Avatar 1: Yes, exactly! That’s the egreenews conversation we need to keep having. And even in the U.S. or EU, sectors like construction—where men make up 80% of workers—see major wage drops and health crises in heatwaves.
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What do all these numbers mean for property managers, city managers, and elected officials? That economic resilience to heat isn’t optional. It’s urgent. Investment in adaptation—shade, cooling centers, building codes, early warnings—pays off in lives and dollars.
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This challenge is our call to action. Every city, every sector, every leader has a stake. The hidden cost of heat is eroding our productivity, our budgets, and our equity. Are we responding quickly and strategically enough, or are we risking our communities’ futures?
Avatar 2: In our next egreenews conversations, we’ll look at how cities are confronting these economic realities—and spotlight adaptation strategies that work.
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Stay with us as we unlock more knowledge, practical advice, and essential perspective. Our collective resilience starts with informed leadership—and that means you.
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Avatar 2: And we promise—every episode is practical. We’ll dig into insurance options, emergency planning, and investment—always with a focus on building resilient, equitable communities. Avatar 1: So, we’re not just talking about problems; we’re here to empower leaders to act. Every episode, we’ll bring in different perspectives—sometimes a story, sometimes we will mention insight from experts.
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Avatar 2: And we promise—every episode is practical. We’ll dig into insurance options, emergency planning, and investment—always with a focus on building resilient, equitable communities. Avatar 1: So, we’re not just talking about problems; we’re here to empower leaders to act. Every episode, we’ll bring in different perspectives—sometimes a story, sometimes we will mention insight from experts.
Avatar 2 : Count me in. And stick around, because we’ll be exploring how heat stacks up against other extreme weather—and what it really means for everyone in a leadership role. Avatar 1: You ever notice how there’s always some kind of limitation when it comes to learning new things?
Avatar 2: Totally! Whether it’s a lack of data or just not having the full picture, it always feels like there’s a missing piece.
his or nah?
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Avatar 1: Right? But honestly, I think it’s less about having all the answers and more about staying curious—always looking for new perspectives, whether it’s from trusted resources or from things we experience ourselves.
Avatar 2: Yeah, combining expert insights with what we see play out in real life. That’s when things start to make sense. Avatar 1: Exactly. Sometimes it’s a lot to take in though. It can feel pretty overwhelming at first.
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Avatar 2: Oh, for sure. I mean, with so much out there, choosing where to dive in is half the battle. Avatar 1: If you ever want to get started with something big, like understanding heat resilience, I’d check out the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation’s Resilience Center. Their Extreme Heat Initiatives are eye-opening. Avatar 2: That’s a great shout. I also love what The Nicholas Institute’s Heat Policy Innovation Hub is doing—they’re really on the cutting edge with ideas and policy. Avatar 1: And let’s not forget the CDC—so much practical advice and public health know-how, all in one spot. Avatar 2: Absolutely. But honestly, it’s people who really move things forward. Like Hugi Hernandez over at Egreenews.org—he’s all about making climate conversations creative and real. Avatar 1: There’s a whole ecosystem of people building solutions. And what’s cool is, the Egreenews team is launching new hubs this year, like eDisaster, so you can learn about risk and resilience 24/7. Avatar 2 : Love that. Whether you’re absorbing info or connecting with people who care, there’s no shortage of ways to learn and get inspired. LinkedIn is full of passionate changemakers too. Avatar 1 : So—ready to get started? Because conversations like this matter. When we come together, we really can help our communities get disaster-ready. Avatar 2 : Count me in. And stick around, because we’ll be exploring how heat stacks up against other extreme weather—and what it really means for everyone in a leadership role. Avatar 1: Thanks for being a part of this journey. Let’s get out there and make a difference—together. Avatar 2: Appreciate you joining today. Until next time! Avatar 1: The pleasure’s mine. See you soon! ``` ((KEY
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