Dhaka — Extreme heat is emerging as a major threat to jobs, productivity, and economic growth across South Asia, according to a new World Bank report. Titled A Livable Future: Protecting Jobs and Growth from Extreme Heat in South Asia’s Cities, the study finds that soaring temperatures are already costing the region the equivalent of nearly 31 million full-time jobs each year. By 2050, extreme heat could shrink South Asia’s economy by almost 7 percent.

The report examines the wide-ranging impacts of rising temperatures on workers, businesses, infrastructure, public services, and urban economies in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. It projects that by 2070, around 520 million people in the region could face at least one month of dangerous heat every year — four times the current number.

With South Asia expected to add 280 million working-age people by 2050, the report stresses that protecting cities from extreme heat will be essential for creating jobs, attracting investment, and sustaining long-term growth.

The authors call for heat resilience to shift from a seasonal emergency response to a core development priority. They outline practical measures governments can implement through existing institutions and financing channels. These include investing in heat-resilient infrastructure, strengthening Heat Action Plans and early warning systems, safeguarding vulnerable workers, expanding access to sustainable cooling, and mobilizing both public and private investment.

Cities across South Asia are already showing that many of these solutions can save lives, protect livelihoods, and cut economic losses. Scaling them up, the report argues, can help the region build more resilient, competitive, and livable cities while securing jobs and economic opportunities for future generations.

The report was prepared with support from the Resilient Asia Program, funded by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office through its Climate Action for a Resilient Asia initiative. Additional backing came from the World Bank’s Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery and the City Resilience Program.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​