The U.N. labor organization warned Monday that more than 70 percent of the global workforce will likely be exposed to excessive heat during their careers, citing growing concerns about exposure to sunlight. He also warned about air pollution, pesticides and other dangers that could lead to health problems, including cancer.
In a new report, the International Labor Organization suggested ways in which governments can improve their legislation and help address the growing effects of climate change on workers.
“It is clear that climate change is already creating significant additional risks to the health of workers,” said Manal Azzi, leader of the organization’s occupational health and safety team. “It is essential that we heed these warnings.”
The ILO estimates that more than 2.4 billion workers (more than 70 percent of the global workforce) are likely to face excessive heat as part of their jobs at some point, according to the most recent figures available, from 2020. This figure is higher to more than 65 percent in 2000.
The Geneva-based body cited the growing link between climate change and harm to human health, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems and mental health.
It is estimated, for example, that 1.6 billion workers are exposed to ultraviolet radiation as part of their work, citing nearly 19,000 deaths a year from non-melanoma skin cancer and ailments as diverse as sunburn, skin blisters and damage. eyes, cataracts and retina. problems such as macular degeneration.
The same number of workers (1.6 billion) are exposed to workplace air pollution, “leading to up to 860,000 work-related deaths among outdoor workers annually,” it said in a statement.
The report says some subsets of workers are particularly vulnerable, such as firefighters in the United States fighting wildfires, which experts say have become larger and more frequent due to climate change due to high heat and excessively dry conditions.
“Workers are often forgotten when we talk about climate change and the health impacts are very serious, from death to millions of people sick due to the dangers exacerbated by climate change, but also millions living with chronic diseases” Aziz said.
The UN labor agency’s @ilo report warns of the growing threat of excess heat and climate change to the world’s workers. #ClimateChange #ExtremeHeat #HumanHealth
Some countries have taken action by enacting laws requiring regular monitoring of workers regularly exposed to heat, excess sunlight, air pollution, and other workplace health risks. In other cases, the ILO says collective bargaining agreements between labor and business leaders have helped mitigate risks.
UN agencies and environmental activists have increasingly sought to highlight the link between Climate change and human health.. Planet Earth recorded a Tenth consecutive month of record monthly temperatures in March, according to the European Union climate agency.
World Health Organization Dear All that between 2030 and 2050, just a handful of climate-related threats, such as malaria and water insecurity, will claim a quarter of a million additional lives each year.