Extreme heat cost Bangladesh an estimated US$1.3-1.8 billion in lost productivity in 2024, equivalent to 0.3-0.4 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), with the impact expected to worsen as temperatures continue to rise, according to a new World Bank report.
The losses increase sharply on days when temperatures exceed 37°C, the report, titled "A Livable Future: Protecting Jobs and Growth from Extreme Heat in South Asia's Cities", said on Thursday.
According to the report, the impact of extreme heat is most severe in the capital, Dhaka, where heat stress renders around 3.0 per cent of annual working hours unworkable, effectively eliminating the equivalent of 465,000 full-time jobs each year.
Extreme heat during the first 1,000 days of life significantly increases the likelihood of stunting among children in Bangladesh, the report said.
It also found that heat stress in Bangladesh's garment factories has been linked to a higher risk of violence and harassment against women workers who are unable to meet production targets.
Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) sector faces a multi-billion-dollar threat from rising temperatures, the report warned.
Citing analysis by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Cornell University's Global Labor Institute, the report said the apparel industries of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam and Cambodia could collectively forgo up to US$65.8 billion in export earnings by 2030 if heat stress remains unaddressed.
Across South Asia, extreme heat is already costing the equivalent of nearly 31 million full-time jobs annually and is projected to reduce the region's economy by almost 7.0 per cent by 2050, according to the report.
As South Asia is expected to add 280 million people to its working-age population by 2050, rising temperatures pose one of the greatest threats to employment, productivity and long-term economic growth, the report said.
"South Asia's cities are central to the region's future, but rising temperatures are putting jobs, livelihoods, and economic growth at risk," the report quoted World Bank Vice President for South Asia Johannes Zutt as saying.
"Building heat-resilient cities is not only about protecting people from rising temperatures. It is about safeguarding jobs, boosting productivity, attracting investment, and ensuring cities continue to drive economic growth. By acting now, countries can build more resilient, competitive, and liveable cities that create opportunities for future generations," he said.
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