As mentioned above our research has resulted in >70 publications in high-impact journals (e.g. Lancet, BMJ, Nature Comm). This work has provided the most detailed methodologies to estimate health and economic implications of global warming and to assess different mitigation and adaptation options to fight climate change. The uptake of HEAT-SHIELD publications has already been high, cited >2000 times, included in IPCC- ILO- and WHO-reports. To facilitate translation into societal impact, we assessed the target industries, (employers/employee representatives) and the social context by working with the European Trade Union Confederation, industry specific unions and non-profits such as the Fundación 1º de Mayo and policy makers such as the Greek Ministry of Labour, as well as the Economics of Climate Change Unit of the European Commission JRC. These collaborations led to a very high uptake of our work by these organizations. One example is the guide “Adaptation to Climate Change and the world of work” published by the European Trade Union Confederation with support from HEAT-SHIELD to play an active role in the design and implementation of the national strategies for adaptation and to bring adaptation on the agenda of industrial relations. Currently, Occupational heat-stress (OHS) is not addressed in EU or national directives for work, but the Greek Minister of Labour requested HEAT-SHIELD to contribute to an explanatory report addressing OHS during the summer months. The report was submitted in 2021 and the Minister is now negotiating with relevant stakeholders the adoption of a Ministerial Decision on OHS in Greece. When adopted, this will be a major milestone affecting the lives of millions of workers and may lead the way for other European countries to follow. We have already paved the way for the adoption of such legislation, helping the Greek Meteorology Service to calibrate their numerical weather prediction models for providing forecasts of the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature, the HEAT-SHIELD indicator for OHS. This indicator has been highlighted in the homepage of the Meteo service since 2020, informing thousands of organizations and millions of workers. Based both on our completed intervention studies and the regional socio-economic analyses, we estimate that compliance with the HEAT-SHIELD recommendations may more than halve the impacts (productivity losses and health-issues) associated with heat-stress - hence markedly improve heat-resilience and reduce the the effects of escalating environmental temperatures associated with climate change)
