Part 2: Weathering the Extremes: Protecting Health and Livelihoods

Extreme heat is no longer only a climate concern. It is one of the fastest-growing threats to worldwide health. The same heat wave can sideline an athlete, cause heat stroke on a job site, and send an older adult to the emergency room, putting unbearable pressure on health systems, workplaces, and communities. The toll is mounting in both lives and livelihoods: The 2025 Lancet Countdown tied heat to approximately 546,000 deaths a year and more than $1 trillion in lost labor productivity. Reinsurers now rank heat as more deadly than the combination of floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Many states and cities are already taking action. But who should pay to keep outdoor workers, older adults, and people with chronic conditions safe as extreme heat intensifies? How can leaders protect health and livelihoods in a hotter world?