SINGAPORE – With El Nino on the horizon and warmer weather on the cards for Singapore, there is an increasing need for people here to learn how to build their resilience against rising temperatures.
This is important because heat goes beyond mere thermal discomfort.
Multiple studies have shown that rising temperatures can affect people in a myriad of ways. The Straits Times highlights some of these impacts, and how people can beat the heat.
People may become more irritable as temperatures rise, and have difficulty paying attention and processing information.
They may be more susceptible to mental health issues such as depression, and suffer from impaired decision-making, lower productivity and poor quality of sleep, said senior economist Dr Ken C. Shawa at a forum in 2025 on heat health in South-east Asia.
For example, a South Korean study found that for every 1 deg C increase in average annual temperatures, respondents were 13 per cent more likely to report having depressive symptoms.
Being exposed to extreme heat can be detrimental to one’s physical health, with vulnerable groups being more susceptible to heat illnesses.
Common side effects of heat include headaches, heat cramps, sunburn and heat rash. Severe injuries include heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
The elderly, and patients with chronic conditions such as thyroid disorders, are at greater risk of fainting or heat injuries.
Scientists from Singapore and Britain had found that patients with endocrine disorders such as diabetes and hyperthyroidism are at a greater risk of heat illnesses as their bodies have difficulty regulating heat.
A recently published Singapore study also found that every 1 deg C rise in daily average temperature more than doubles an outdoor worker’s risk of heat stroke. If this temperature increase is sustained over three days, the worker’s odds of having a heat injury nearly quadruples.
High heat stress affects workers’ productivity and decision-making skills, which can lead to a higher risk of injury. Students may also experience poorer performance in warmer environments.
Project HeatSafe, a research project based at the National University of Singapore (NUS) forecast that in 2035, rising temperatures could cause a $2.22 billion loss in labour productivity in Singapore across the construction, services, manufacturing and agriculture sectors.
The cognitive performance of secondary school students also decreased when they experienced warmer, stiller environments, according to a local study supported by the Ministry of National Development.
Exposure to extreme heat can negatively affect fertility and birth outcomes, at a time when Singapore is facing low fertility rates.
The Republic’s total fertility rate hit a new low of 0.87 in 2025, deepening concerns over its potential impact on the country’s society and economy. Total fertility rate refers to the average number of babies each woman would have during her reproductive years.
