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ClimateQuiet 6d · day 8

UC Davis study quantifies heat stress as major carbon cost: $41/ton in lost labor

Researchers estimate climate-driven heat stress costs the U.S. $220 billion annually in worker productivity, making labor the second-largest contributor to carbon's social cost.

newest coverage 6d agosummary written 5d ago2 pieces87 likes & upvotes1 comments NewswiresBluesky

What to know

  • UC Davis research quantifies heat-driven labor productivity loss at $41 per ton of CO2 emitted in 2025, with U.S. costs at $220 billion annually.
  • The study ranks labor as the second-largest economic cost of climate change after heat-related deaths, supporting a social cost of carbon around $200 per ton.
  • India, Nigeria, China, Pakistan, and sub-Saharan Africa face the highest exposure; outdoor workers and those without air conditioning are most vulnerable.
  • Current federal U.S. policy does not recognize these labor costs in regulatory analysis, though the research suggests it should inform carbon pricing and climate policy.

“We're getting better and better at evaluating climate damages. We're getting more confident in the social cost of carbon, and it is a metric that should be used.”

Frances Moore, UC Davis professor, lead author · Phys.org ↗

Frances Moore Lead author, UC Davis Environmental Science and PolicyUniversity of California, Davis Research institution

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 1 piece in two hours at Sep 16, 10 AM; 2 pieces over 8 days (1 article · 1 post) Sep 16, 10 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 16, 12 PM — quietSep 16, 2 PM — quietSep 16, 4 PM — quietSep 16, 6 PM — quietSep 16, 8 PM — quietSep 16, 10 PM — quietSep 17, 12 AM — quietSep 17, 2 AM — quietSep 17, 4 AM — quietSep 17, 6 AM — quietSep 17, 8 AM — quietSep 17, 10 AM — quietSep 17, 12 PM — quietSep 17, 2 PM — quietSep 17, 4 PM — quietSep 17, 6 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Bluesky 1Sep 17, 8 PM — quietSep 17, 10 PM — quietSep 18, 12 AM — quietSep 18, 2 AM — quietSep 18, 4 AM — quietSep 18, 6 AM — quietSep 18, 8 AM — quietSep 18, 10 AM — quietSep 18, 12 PM — quietSep 18, 2 PM — quietSep 18, 4 PM — quietSep 18, 6 PM — quietSep 18, 8 PM — quietSep 18, 10 PM — quietSep 19, 12 AM — quietSep 19, 2 AM — quietSep 19, 4 AM — quietSep 19, 6 AM — quietSep 19, 8 AM — quietSep 19, 10 AM — quietSep 19, 12 PM — quietSep 19, 2 PM — quietSep 19, 4 PM — quietSep 19, 6 PM — quietSep 19, 8 PM — quietSep 19, 10 PM — quietSep 20, 12 AM — quietSep 20, 2 AM — quietSep 20, 4 AM — quietSep 20, 6 AM — quietSep 20, 8 AM — quietSep 20, 10 AM — quietSep 20, 12 PM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 4 PM — quietSep 20, 6 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 12 AM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 6 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 12 PM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quiet ◂ 1 earlier2
Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22yesterdaynow · 2:56 AM ET
  1. 2

    Social media highlights U.S. productivity losses and corporate responsibility

    A Bluesky user shared the findings, noting that U.S. productivity losses from heat stress have risen to $220 billion annually from $130 billion in 2001, and questioned why businesses are not addressing the issue.

    “In the U.S. alone, productivity losses due to heat stress cost an average of $220 billion annually, up from $130 billion in 2001. Why aren't businesses working to address it?”
    — bambooshooti.bsky.social
    • bambooshooti.bsky.social

      #ResistanceEarth Climate change-related heat stress is making workers less productive. In the U.S. alone, productivity losses due to heat stress cost an average of $220 billion annually, up from $130 billion in 2001. Why aren't businesses working to address it?

      bambooshooti.bsky.socialBluesky6d ago87▲view on Bluesky ↗
  2. 1 day quiet
  3. 1

    UC Davis study quantifies heat stress cost to global labor

    Researchers published findings in Nature Climate Change estimating that each ton of CO2 emitted in 2025 costs $41 in lost productivity due to heat stress on workers. The study combines heat stress projections with job and region-specific work exposure data across economic sectors.

    “Labor is the second-largest contributor to the total social cost of carbon, just behind heat-related deaths.”
    — Frances Moore
    1. 1 outlet Heat-related lost labor emerges as a major cost of carbon emissions

      first by Phys.org, 7d ago