Before AC, when could people in hot humid climates work efficiently?

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People in hot, humid climates could work efficiently only during the cooler hours of the day before widespread air conditioning.

Lee Kuan Yew said that before air conditioning became widespread, hot and humid climates limited efficient work to certain parts of the day. In his account, people could work effectively only when temperatures were cooler. This observation was later highlighted again in connection with his remarks on how air conditioning changed what countries in the tropics could achieve.
Efficient work was limited to the day’s cooler periods
Lee Kuan Yew described a practical time constraint for work in hot, humid climates. Before widespread air conditioning, efficient work was possible only during the cooler hours of the day. The point was tied to how climate affected daily productivity.
The statement was linked to air conditioning’s broader impact
His remarks framed air conditioning as an invention that altered what tropical countries could pursue. He argued that air conditioning changed the nature of civilisation by making development possible in the tropics. The “cooler hours” detail was presented as part of why air conditioning mattered for productivity.
The context included wider debates about heat and workplaces
The resurfaced comments came as Europe faced another severe heatwave, with temperatures prompting debate about how workplaces and cities adapt to extreme weather. That renewed attention placed Lee’s earlier observation about heat and working hours into a modern discussion. The focus remained on how climate conditions affect working life before cooling becomes common.

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Before AC, when could people in hot humid climates work efficiently?

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