CS Ventura Foundation
The presentation would provide corporate sustainability folks, environmental / community NGOs and tech founders with an understanding of the impact of rising heat on mobile workforces, be it in employee productivity or well-being. And, arm them with simple ways to evaluate impact of cushioning solutions.
A 2026 study, based on informal-worker households estimated annual wage losses at approximately 1.99 per cent of India’s 2024 GDP, with outdoor workers losing around twenty-four working days a year. The Lancet Countdown recorded 247 billion potential labour hours lost to heat in India in 2024, 124% above the average for the 1990s. Because losses (reduced human labor capacity, minor health deficits, and higher cooling costs) blend into daily operational friction, businesses often attribute declining revenue to poor economic cycles rather than climate-induced heat stress.
Using empirical evidence and models, we will show how to assess the potential impact from worsening heat days on outdoor workers in Bengaluru, such as in construction or outdoor vending. Additionally, how to evaluate options to cushion the impact on livelihoods and health.