Study Shows Our Nights are Heating Up Too—What Will This Mean for Outdoor Workers?
If you’ve been working out in the field this summer, you know how hot it has been. For boots-on-the-ground individuals, heat is one of the most significant threats to job security and safety globally.
While The Washington Post called this a “brutally hot summer,” Phoenix hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit for a record 100th straight day. This doesn’t even account for the heat domes across the U.S., the natural disasters and droughts, or the wildfires caused partly by the blistering heat of the Pacific Northwest. However, now we face yet another climate change-related heat crisis—and it’s big.
The Research is In, and Hot Nights Are Ahead
The nonprofit Climate Central defines itself as “an independent group of scientists and communicators who research and report the facts about our changing climate and how it affects people’s lives. We are a policy-neutral 501(c)(3) nonprofit.” In their mission statement, they explain, “Climate Central uses science, big data, and technology to generate thousands of local storylines and compelling visuals that make climate change personal and show what can be done about it. We address climate science, sea level rise, extreme weather, energy, and related topics. We collaborate widely with TV meteorologists, journalists, and other respected voices to reach audiences across diverse geographies and beliefs.”
Now, this group of scientists and communicators has released a research study entitled “Analysis: Climate change is increasing dangerous nighttime temperatures across the globe.” In this study, the nonprofit explains that 2.4 billion people experienced an average of at least two additional weeks per year where nighttime temperatures exceeded 25°C, while over 1 billion people experienced an average of at least two additional weeks per year of nights above 20°C and 18°C. As part of their key findings, the study explained, “Climate change — caused by burning fossil fuels like oil, coal, and gas — is causing a significant increase in dangerously hot nights across the globe.” As Nick Obradovich, one of the chief scientists at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research, told Agence France-Presse, “Warmer nighttime temperatures, particularly during hot times of the year, can harm sleep and can reduce physical recovery from hot daytime temperatures, both of which can have cascading impacts on health outcomes.”
The impact of these hotter nights can already be seen in America today. In a Gallup survey, it was found that “U.S. adults who are frequently too hot or too cold when sleeping are more likely to suffer substandard overall sleep than those who are not. While both conditions are harmful to overall sleep quality, hot sleeping is more closely related.”
Beyond poor sleep quality, sleeping in hot temperatures is also directly related to increases in depression and anxiety. As the Gallup survey continued, “Those who sleep too hot always or most of the time are nearly twice as likely as those who rarely or never sleep too hot to have been diagnosed with depression or anxiety in their lifetimes (41% versus 22%).” Furthermore, sleeping in hot temperatures can affect cognitive function and life expectancy, which only furthers the risk of injuries and incidents on job sites.
The Conclusion: Hotter Nights Mean Harder Lives
When looking at the data presented in this night temperature survey, there are two conclusions that boots-on-the-ground workers should recognize. Firstly, warmer nights mean that night work will inevitably not be the solution to climate change’s impact after all. Secondly, these increased temperatures will lead to poor sleep quality and directly impact our community on a mental and physical level.
The best solution at this current juncture is to advocate for climate action, ensure your team follows heat safety guidelines, and inform those around you that they are capable of saying ‘STOP’ on a job site if they feel they or a team member are not safely performing the tasks at hand.