Climate Change and Work:

About this course

This course will provide an overview of the various effects of climate change on working life, work organizations and work itself, and how organizations can take an active role towards green transition. Some industries (e.g., energy, transport, construction) are more effected than others, however, all industries and services need to anticipate the effects of climate change on working conditions. Learning new, less polluting and greener ways of conducting business to mitigate climate change is in focus.

The course will discuss conditions and provide tools for proactive and collaborative adaptation and mitigation actions in organizations. Climate change and its effects are seen as a systemic phenomenon, and the relationship between climate change and work as reciprocal. On the one hand, climate change affects working conditions, thus there is an urgent need to increase knowledge of the adaptation requirements, OHS risks and resources as well as develop practical tools and means for ensuring optimal solutions in the changing conditions. On the other hand, working life actors play an important role in mitigating climate change, for example, through developing greener products, and thus remodifying work practices and processes need new competence and collaboration.

The course uses systemic human factors approach, and presents lessons learnt in OHS and work and organizational development. Multiple disciplines and analytical frameworks are invited into discussion, to foster cross-disciplinary solution-making for safe, green transition and climate change adaptation.

Course objectives

The course objective is to contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation of work organizations by providing knowledge of systemic effects of climate change on work, and to offer practical models and tools for enhancing organizational development, resilience, skills development, and health and safety measures at workplaces.

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Main topics

• The systemic and dynamic relation between climate change and work
• Climate change efforts in work organizations: current view and development needs
• Systemic approach to explore the effects of climate change and to accelerate and organize the adaptation and mitigation efforts
• Climate agency of workplaces (CAW): examples of co-creation processes of climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts in different organizations
• Resilience and adaptive capacity for climate actions
• OHS effects of climate change and renewal of OHS practices; examples of different organizations.
• Tools to foster and accelerate climate agency of work organizations

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Target groups

The course welcomes people from different disciplines and occupations into discussions and collective learning process on the issue:

• Occupational safety and health (OSH) officials, HR and well-being personnel
• Managers and supervisors at all organizational levels
• Work and organization, OSH researchers, sustainability and environmental scientists,
• Educational professionals and teachers
• System designers and engineers, ergonomists, economists, etc.
• Policymakers, experts working at governments
• Experts responsible for and involved in developing organization and work to anticipate effects of climate change
• Other people interested in the systemic effects of climate change at work

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Subject background

The climate crisis is causing changes in human life and in ways of working and living. There are also recognized effects on OHS, due to rapidly changing weather conditions and related unexpected events, e.g., incidents and accidents. Anticipative, effective means for adapting to changing working conditions due climate change are thus needed in all workplaces.

At the same time, companies and work organizations in all sectors are striving for new, more sustainable ways of producing their products and services. These new processes, materials, products and practices may pose unexpected and/or new risks that need to be carefully considered, too. The IPPC6-report introduced the idea of Climate Resilient Development that integrates adaptation measures and their enabling conditions with mitigation to advance sustainable development for all. This course bases on this idea and strives for sustainable, systemic development at the workplaces.

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General course fee and cancellation information

The courses and workshops vary in price. Please note that the course fee does not cover meals or accommodation. The course fee and day-package fee are invoiced after the registration deadline.

Travel arrangements

Please refrain from booking any travel tickets until we have confirmed the course. The confirmation, which will be sent at the latest after the registration deadline, will include detailed information on the payment of the course fee and day-packages, as well as information on practical arrangements. Please note that you are not insured by NIVA.

Cancellation policy

Cancellations received by 19th of August 2024: full refund
Cancellations received by 20th of August 2024 or later: no refund

NIVA will issue an invoice or send information on how to pay the course with credit card (depending on the option chosen in the registration form) after the registration deadline.

The price is subject to minor changes.

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Contact persons

Course leaders

Anna-Maria Teperi, Research Professor, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), Finland
email: Anna-Maria.Teperi@ttl.fi

Arja Ala-Laurinaho, Senior Specialist, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), Finland
email: Arja.Ala-Laurinaho@ttl.fi

In practical matters, please contact:

Nathalie Räihä
Project Manager
NIVA
email: nathalie.raiha@niva.org