Extreme weather is already driving up health care costs, but many businesses aren’t prepared to deal with the impact. While 77% of U.S. workers say climate events have affected them or their families, just 4% of employers have assessed which parts of their workforce are most vulnerable. 

A new Forbes article by former Sen. Bill Frist, M.D., spotlights this growing gap and the data-driven tool helping close it.

Dr. Frist, who is Co-Chair of the National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health, highlights the Climate Health Cost Forecaster, a first-of-its-kind tool developed by Mercer in partnership with the Commission. The Forecaster translates climate events — like extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and flooding — into 10-year health care cost projections for any U.S. zip code, giving employers a clear view of how environmental conditions may affect their people and bottom line.

Early findings show stark disparities. Workers in climate-controlled environments see up to 40% lower medical costs, while outdoor workers in agriculture and construction face dramatically higher risks. The Forecaster equips companies with the insights to shift from reactive to proactive, building resilience before the next heatwave, wildfire, or storm.

“Data alone does not heal people; investments do,” writes Frist, pointing to promising solutions like Green Heart Project in Louisville, Kentucky, which linked urban tree planting to reduced cardiovascular risk. He also noted parametric insurance programs that offer real-time financial relief to outdoor workers during heat waves.

As Frist makes clear, protecting workers from climate-driven health risks is good for people and good for business. The Climate Health Cost Forecaster gives employers the clarity to act now, not later.

Read the full article in Forbes to learn how climate readiness is becoming a business imperative.

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Empowering Business Leaders To Take Action

The National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health is a group of business, health, and climate leaders who share a mission to protect workers from the health risks posed by extreme weather.

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