One way to measure the far-reaching effects of climate change is the social cost of carbon (SCC): the estimated monetary cost of emitting one extra tonne of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. But most SCC estimates don’t account fully for the global cost of labour lost through heat stress. Because abnormally hot and humid conditions pose a serious risk to health, workers are forced to slow down, work fewer hours and take more breaks (pictured), lowering productivity.
Access options
Access through your institution
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
27,99 € / 30 days
cancel any time
Learn more
Subscription info for Chinese customers
We have a dedicated website for our Chinese customers. Please go to naturechina.com to subscribe to this journal.
Go to naturechina.com
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Learn more
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Nature 658, 42 (2026)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-02971-x
Reprints and permissions
Competing Interests
The author declares no competing interests.
Related Articles
-
Read the paper: New labour and agricultural damages improve climate cost estimates
-
The cost of changes in energy use in a warming world
-
The cost of a warming climate
-
See all News & Views
Subjects
- Climate change
- Economics
- Society
Latest on:
- Climate change
- Economics
- Society
-
Nepal’s floods expose issues with climate-disaster funding — firmer policies are needed fast
World View
-
A widespread agricultural practice is an unexpected CO2 sink
News & Views
-
A global safety net for climate-risk intelligence is urgently needed
Correspondence
-
Banking records reveal characteristics of financial abuse
Article
-
Global inequality panel is a chance for research to change lives
Editorial
-
Why we need an International Panel on Inequality
Comment
-
Exclusive: Sham scientific societies are misleading star researchers
News Feature
-
Nearly one in seven young, male white voters in the US support white nationalism
News & Views
-
People trust scientists seen to be ‘on their side’, UK study finds
News
Jobs
-
Multiple Positions Open in the Stomatology Hospital, ZJUSS
Leaders or Principal Investigators, Faculty and Postdoc positions are open all year
Hangzhou, Zhejiang (CN)
The Stomatology Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
-
Postdoctoral Fellows Recruitment Announcement at Shenzhen Bay Laboratory
Substantial Funding for Postdoctoral Research
Shenzhen, Guangdong (CN)
Shenzhen Bay Laboratory
-
Faculty Positions at SUSTech Department of Biomedical Engineering
We seek outstanding applicants for full-time tenure-track/tenured faculty positions. Positions are available for both junior and senior-level.
Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Southern University of Science and Technology (Biomedical Engineering)
-
Postdoc Opportunity at MSK: Research Scholar, Computational Oncology/Immuno Oncology
We are seeking a highly motivated computational biology postdoctoral fellow
New York City, New York (US)
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
-
Postdoctoral Fellow, Computational Immuno-Oncology and Immune-Related Adverse Events
Join the Reznik Laboratory within MSK’s Computational Oncology Service
New York City, New York (US)
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center