All videos

What To Know: Wet-Bulb Temperature

Heat impacts the human body much more than dry air temperature. The wet-bulb temperature, or the WBT, measures heat and humidity. A healthy person can withstand a wet-bulb temperature of 35 degrees C for only 6 hours. After this, our body’s core temperature starts rising, and our organs can start to fail. But how does the wet-bulb temperature matter for surviving climate change?

Topics:
Climate Action and Waste Reduction
Share:
World Economic Forum logo

Forum Stories newsletter

Bringing you weekly curated insights and analysis on the global issues that matter.

Subscribe today

More on Climate Action and Waste Reduction
See all

How Japan is preparing for the extreme heat of summer 2026

Naoko Tochibayashi

June 12, 2026

Carbon accounting: Nature is now on the corporate balance sheet

About us

Engage with us

Quick links

Language editions

Privacy Policy & Terms of Service

Sitemap

© 2026 World Economic Forum