Extreme urban heat: a growing threat to Latin American cities

From Mexico City to Santo Domingo and Buenos Aires, a new climate reality is taking shape. Average temperatures in Latin American and Caribbean cities have risen by up to 1.5°C since 1950; hot days are multiplying, and record-breaking heatwaves are far more frequent than just a few decades ago. This is not just a matter of comfort—it’s a question of health, well-being, and survival.

The World Bank report Unlivable: Confronting Extreme Urban Heat in Latin America and the Caribbean reveals that rising temperatures are already transforming how cities function—threatening lives, overloading infrastructure, and putting economies at risk. It also presents a set of solutions that can protect people while fostering safer, more livable cities.

Heat kills. It can strike suddenly—through heatstroke or accidents—but more often its toll is silent: it damages the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs, shortens life expectancy, and accelerates death among the most vulnerable. In 2023 alone, an estimated 48,000 people over the age of 65 in the region died prematurely from heat-related causes.

Cities are at the epicenter of this crisis. Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the most urbanized regions in the world, with more than 80% of its population living in cities. Dense neighborhoods trap heat; concrete and asphalt replace green spaces; and inadequate housing leaves millions exposed to dangerously high indoor temperatures. Poorer households are often hit the hardest.

Urban infrastructure is also under strain. Power grids fail under surging cooling demand, public transport systems overheat, and schools are forced to shorten hours or close during heat peaks. These disruptions carry significant economic costs, as extreme heat reduces productivity and erodes human capital. Without urgent action, urban GDP losses could exceed 5% between 2040 and 2050.

Solutions that Protect People and Jobs

The impacts are severe—but solutions exist. Cities can cool down through better urban design: planting trees, expanding parks and green corridors, using reflective or green roofs, and redesigning streets to allow for shade and ventilation. Buildings can be made more livable with passive cooling techniques, while investments in public transport, energy systems, and housing can prevent service disruptions and save lives.

However, heat resilience is not only about infrastructure—it’s also about protecting people and their livelihoods. Up to 70% of workers in Latin America and the Caribbean are exposed to extreme heat, especially in construction, agriculture, and informal urban jobs. Protecting them requires proper occupational health and safety regulations, adaptive social protection systems that respond to income losses during heatwaves, and impact-based early warning systems that prioritize worker safety.

Investments in resilience can also become engines of job creation. Medellín’s Green Corridors initiative shows how cooling projects can link climate action with employment. By training and hiring vulnerable residents in landscaping and ecosystem maintenance, the city reduced heat while generating new formal livelihoods. Including training, certification, and hiring requirements in project design ensures that these opportunities translate into sustainable jobs, not just temporary activities.

Building Resilient, Equitable, and Inclusive Cities

Early warning systems, labor protection policies, and social safety nets can save lives during extreme heat events. But to be effective, solutions must be embedded in urban strategies and budgets, considering employment and livelihoods alongside cooling measures.

By integrating climate adaptation with job creation, occupational safety, and social protection, cities can multiply the benefits of every dollar invested. Extreme urban heat is not a future threat—it’s already here. Acting now can save lives, protect workers, expand opportunities, and build a more resilient and inclusive future.