Nicosia: Cumulative economic losses between £2.3 billion and £3.8 billion by 2050 could result if no adaptation measures are implemented in workplaces to address increasing extreme heat, according to a new study by the Cyprus Institute, which also projects a significant rise in the number of days workers will be forced to suspend work due to unsafe heat conditions.
According to Cyprus News Agency, an announcement issued by the Cyprus Institute on Wednesday indicates that the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events are increasing in Cyprus, heightening risks for workers in both outdoor and indoor workplaces.
Researchers combined climate and biological data to calculate heat stress indicators for different levels of work intensity and sun exposure, focusing on workers in the construction, agriculture, and tourism sectors.
The study concludes that, compared with the 1980-2020 period, workers performing moderate and high-intensity labor will increasingly face unsafe working conditions due to extreme heat. By 2030, they are expected to lose working time equivalent to an additional nine days, while by 2050 the increase is projected to reach 27 days.
The researchers estimate that reduced economic output could result in losses of £101 million in 2030, or 0.4% of GDP, and £303 million in 2050, or 0.7% of GDP. Cumulative losses by 2050 are projected at £2.3 billion to £3.8 billion, or about 0.5% of Cyprus' cumulative GDP over the 2026-2050 period, if no workplace adaptation measures are introduced.
Professor Theodoros Zachariades, one of the study's authors, said that 'our study is the first one using Cypriot data to estimate the economic damage caused by lost work hours due to extreme heat.'
He added that 'the cost to the economy will be significant as the intensity and duration of very hot days increase in the coming years,' warning that 'the impact on the most vulnerable and exposed workers in Cyprus may also be severe and require adaptation measures to monitor and protect workers' health and performance.'