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How Climate Change Impacts Workers
45 United States Environmental Protection Agency, “Climate Change and the Health of Workers.”
46 Sangeetha and Usha, “Impact of Climate Change on the Labor Market.”
Climate change poses diverse risks to workers, from direct health impacts and safety hazards to economic disruptions and increased occupational demands. These effects span multiple sectors, highlighting the need for adaptive workplace strategies.
Climate-Related Risk Impact on Workers
Heat Stress, Illness, and Death
Reduced Productivity
Safety Hazards and Infrastructure Damage
Respiratory Diseases
Economic Disruptions
Mental Health Issues
Vector-Borne Diseases
Water-Related Illnesses
Chronic Diseases
Allergies and Asthma
Food Safety, Nutrition, and Distribution
Increased Demand for Medical Services and Short Staffing
Increased Demand for Emergency Responders
Effects on Vulnerable Populations
Higher temperatures and frequent heat waves lead to heat stress, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and increased incidences of heat-related illnesses and deaths, particularly affecting outdoor workers and those in hot indoor environments.
Extreme heat results in significant losses in work hours and productivity, particularly in the manufacturing sector, impacting economic performance and individual livelihoods.
Hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other extreme weather events pose threats to workplace safety, cause injuries, fatalities, and mental health issues, damage infrastructure, lead to operational delays, and increase maintenance costs.
Rising pollution from climate change exacerbates respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic bronchitis, affecting workers' health and productivity.
Climate change threatens entire industries, causing unemployment, and migration, disrupting labor markets, and reducing overall economic output.
Exposure to climate-related disasters can lead to stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, particularly among vulnerable occupational groups.
Climate change affects the distribution of vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks, increasing the risk of diseases like Lyme disease and West Nile virus, particularly for outdoor workers.
Changes in water quality due to runoff from extreme precipitation events increase the risk of waterborne illnesses for workers in agriculture and related sectors.
Long-term exposure to higher temperatures and pollutants may contribute to chronic conditions such as kidney disease, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer among workers.
Increased levels of allergens due to climate change can worsen asthma and other allergic conditions, significantly impacting workers' health and productivity.
Climate change affects food production, safety, and nutrition, leading to potential foodborne illnesses and disruptions in food supply, impacting workers in agriculture and food industries.
The health impacts of climate change, such as heat-related illnesses and respiratory diseases, lead to higher demand for medical services, exacerbating existing staffing shortages in the healthcare sector.
Climate change-induced weather events such as wildfires, hurricanes, and floods increase the demand for firefighters and other emergency response personnel, straining resources and leading to staffing shortages.
Certain groups, including low-income workers, communities of color, immigrant groups, and older adults, are disproportionately vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change, due to socio-economic and health disparities.
The sources used in this table on climate change impacts and risks include key studies by Burgess and Rattray (2021), which detail occupational and environmental health risks, and Ebi and Hess (2018), which provide an overview of direct and indirect health effects. Additionally, the U.S. Global Change Research Program's 2016 report offers comprehensive data on health outcomes and vulnerable populations. These sources collectively inform the health risks and mechanisms through which climate change affects health.
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Table: Alejandra Rodriguez Climate Jobs Institute, Created with Datawrapper
It is important to note that while the climate crisis affects everyone, it does not affect everyone equally. A 2021 analysis from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that “the most severe harms from climate change fall disproportionately upon underserved communities who are the least able to prepare for, and recover from, heat waves, poor air quality, flooding, and other impacts.” “Racial and ethnic minority communities,” they found, “are particularly vulnerable to the greatest impacts of climate change.”47 By necessity, any attempts to combat climate change must also take on deep-seated inequalities–of race, gender, income, hope, and opportunity–that are pervasive in our society.
To minimize the harmful effects of climate change on workers and capitalize on potential opportunities, it is crucial to develop strategies for both reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the changes that are already happening. With smart policies and proactive measures to protect workers’ interests, this shift can open up new employment possibilities in areas like renewable energy, green construction, and other sustainable industries.48 Labor unions have an important role to play in this transition. Leaders and members can push for the creation of good, new jobs while also fighting to make sure there are training programs and other support systems in place for workers who might be negatively impacted by these economic changes. Through a combination of smart government policies and strong advocacy in the workplace, advocates can maintain high labor standards, create effective job training initiatives, and provide a safety net for affected workers as we shift to more sustainable ways of doing business.49