Increasing physical work capacity losses due to heat stress increase

As global warming continues, hotter and more humid weather conditions become increasingly frequent, heightening population exposure to heat-stress environments. This could lead to a loss of physical work capacity (PWC loss) and result in significant economic risks. Here, we investigate the PWC loss risks and their recent changes under different heat stress environments for the period of 1985-2023. Changes in PWC loss risks on comfort days, defined by heat stress values of 20-29 °C, show a latitudinal contrast, with an overall decrease in low latitudes and an increase in high latitudes. However, they have increased everywhere on both discomfort days (30-45 °C) and dangerous days (above 45 °C), with a greater increase in the latter condition. This suggests that global warming is exacerbating the risks of PWC loss in more intense heat stress environments. Geographically, Western Europe, the…