‘Trillion-dollar question.’ How extreme heat is shifting corporate bottom lines
In North America, severe heat waves now occur twice as frequently as they did in the mid-20th century – a rate accelerating even faster across Europe and Latin America.As record-breaking summer temperatures regularly cause regional infrastructure to buckle, the macroeconomic toll is mounting. While intense heat disrupts operations for a variety of industries, it also creates business opportunities for others.Wall Street is now having to devote more resources to pinpointing those winners and losers, though it remains a complex task. “This is the trillion-dollar question,” says Gernot Wagner, a climate economist at Columbia Business School.
- ▪In North America, severe heat waves now occur twice as frequently as they did in the mid-20th century – a rate accelerating even faster across Europe and Latin America.As record-breaking summer temperatures regularly cause regional infrastr
- ▪While intense heat disrupts operations for a variety of industries, it also creates business opportunities for others.Wall Street is now having to devote more resources to pinpointing those winners and losers, though it remains a complex ta
- ▪“This is the trillion-dollar question,” says Gernot Wagner, a climate economist at Columbia Business School.
Straits Times — World files mainly under world. We currently carry 1,252 of its stories.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
‘Trillion-dollar question.’ How extreme heat is shifting corporate bottom linesSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxIncreasingly severe heat disrupts operations for a variety of industries, but it also creates business opportunities for others. PHOTO: AFPPublished Jul 24, 2026, 11:45 AMUpdated Jul 24, 2026, 11:45 AMSet as preferred sourceSummariseExtreme heat waves are increasing business risks and opportunities, impacting industries like power grids, data centres, trucking and construction.Utilities invest billions to upgrade aging electrical grids to handle higher air conditioning demand and prevent failures during heat waves.Rising temperatures raise labour costs and reduce productivity in construction, while logistics firms add air conditioning, increasing…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.