The United Nations, together with the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization, released an updated technical report and guidance on 22 August warning that rising global temperatures are inflicting mounting health and economic costs on the world’s workforce. The study finds that worker productivity falls by 2–3 percent for every degree Celsius above 20 °C and estimates that roughly half of the world’s population is already suffering adverse effects from excessive heat. Health risks identified include heatstroke, dehydration, kidney dysfunction and neurological disorders. More than 2.4 billion people—many in agriculture, construction and fisheries—are regularly exposed to dangerous heat, contributing to an estimated 22.85 million heat-related occupational injuries each year, the agencies said. “Protection of workers from extreme heat is not just a health imperative but an economic necessity,” WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett told reporters. The guidance, the first major update since 1969, urges governments and employers to adopt occupational heat-action plans tailored to local conditions, educate health professionals on heat stress, and engage workers and unions in developing safeguards. The agencies stressed that prompt action is essential to prevent further productivity losses and protect vulnerable communities as climate change drives more frequent and intense heatwaves.