The impact of climate change is growing, covering more territories and affecting more people all over the world. Unfortunately, the workplace is no exception here. Both employers and employees are going to experience many climate-related changes in the following years.
Carbon Footprint: Office Edition
Measures have to be taken to reduce the effects of climate change, and the places where people spend their work time can be managed to help reduce carbon emissions.
- Vehicles. Commuting? Good (for the environment). Driving to work? Not so much. Until all cars go fully electric, we have to make sure we drive as little as possible. While for many people a car is the only option, others should consider car sharing or public transport. Companies can invest in electric vehicles, replacing the older ones with the new, cleaner technology.
- Environment-friendly office. A lot of good can be done if you pay attention to detail. Switching to a paper-free office will reduce the toll on forests. Recycling waste correctly helps preserve air, water, and soil. If your place has the cafeteria and it uses plastic utensils, that’s another seemingly little thing that goes a very long way.
- Remote work. The less we commute back and forth, the smaller our carbon footprint. Working from home should be an option whenever possible to lower the impact on climate.
In short, sustainability culture, support policies, and climate awareness are crucial to making the workplace eco-friendly. And the more companies adopt this thoughtful approach, the better for all of humanity.
The Art of Adaptation
Sadly, we are past the point of mere prevention. The consequences of our actions are catching up to us already. Deadly heat waves in Canada, the Middle East, and India. Climate refugees and climate tourists. Floods, droughts, and storms.
We are going to have to adapt to the new conditions. Climate change management in the workplace is going to become vital.
When it comes to the impact of climate change, the most immediate threat to the workflow is heat. In many places summer temperatures can – and do – get dangerous. Air conditioning will become a must, but in some cases the work might need to slow down significantly. Again, remote work might come into play. Outdoor jobs might introduce night shifts (for example, construction workers in the Middle East sometimes work nights to avoid the sun).
Furthermore, we are going to see new jobs. More and more people are going to get involved trying to mitigate the impact of climate change. Technology, communication, research, management are going to need specialists equipped with the knowledge and relatively few have right now.
It’s hard to predict exactly how climate change is going to unfold. We might make a scientific breakthrough to help us along – or not. We might cause a global catastrophe and aggravate the situation – or not. All we can see is the general direction where things are going.
In any case, climate change already affects every continent and every nation. To keep the world economy afloat, we are going to have to change our ways.
Prevention and management of rapid global warming will help us maintain supply chains and workplace productivity. Unless we meet the challenge head on, the transition might be too rough for quite a few companies, and this is something we all should consider.
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