How can work organizations take an active role in addressing climate change in workplaces? Meet Arja Ala-Laurinaho and Anna-Maria Teperi, course leaders for the upcoming course on Climate Change and Work in the Helsinki region in September.

Backgrounds

Anna-Maria Teperi: I work as a Research Professor of Occupational Safety at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. Additionally, I hold the position of docent at Tampere University, where I specialize in human factors in safety management systems, and at the University of Vaasa, focusing on organization and management. I have a Master’s degree in psychology and a Licenciate’s degree in work and organizational psychology. Since the 2000s, I have been involved in implementing and studying the implementation of a systemic human factors approach in safety-critical fields such as aviation and the nuclear industry. I am a vice-chair of the Finnish Expert Panel of Sustainable Development and a member of the EU Commission Advisory Committee Health and Safety Working Party.

Arja Ala-Laurinaho: I work as a Senior specialist in the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. My background is both in engineering and work and organizational psychology. During my over twenty years career in the FIOH, I have worked as a researcher, team leader, senior specialist and deputy director of department Digitalization. I have conducted R&D projects with a variety of organizations and industries on organizational change, new forms of work, digitalization, sustainability, and twin (digi & green) transition. Important in all the projects has been to support participation and agency of the personnel.

Interests in the topic

Anna-Maria Teperi: In my recent roles I have gained valuable insights into the crucial times we now live in and the potential impact of understanding the role of workplaces in sustainable development. Implementing accurate strategies and operational activities in workplaces can significantly contribute to sustainable development. I have been pondering how heavily we have relied on technology and normative solutions. However, to have truly efficient solutions for the future of work, we need knowledge, practical models, and tools to understand and learn how to analyze human contribution in the complex and uncertain world that we currently face.

Arja Ala-Laurinaho: The urgency to adapt to climate change and innovate means mitigating it at all levels of society, from global measures to individual deeds, has been my main interest for some years. I am continuously learning about how workplaces can actively mitigate climate change. This includes understanding who should take the initiative, how, when, and what measures or innovations are available.

Climate Change and Work is an important and current issue to discuss

The climate crisis is causing changes in ways of working and living; we can see this in the news every day – and usually the news are bad. Now is the last moment to take action, to mitigate and also to adapt to the serious consequences of climate change for life. Workplaces are one important actor that can take more responsibility in mitigation.

“Now is the last moment to take action, to mitigate and also to adapt to the serious consequences of climate change for life.”

It is also important to offer people different channels to act for themselves – work is an important part of our lives, and being able to act in work will have a positive impact on our well-being. We want to believe that people always have the potential for positive performance, to improve work and workplaces. This applies also a just green transition in workplaces.

About the upcoming course

The course will provide a comprehensive overview of the various effects of climate change on working life, and invites the participants to ideate and share experiences on how organizations can take an active role towards green transition.

We are excited to learn together about various theoretical approaches, as well as practical tools, methods and ideas on how work communities could change their practices in a more sustainable direction. We need all the creativity here, and we need to support each other to spread the word in workplaces, to speed up the green transition in practice. We are confident that you will gain valuable insights and practical models and tools that can be implemented in your workplace after completing this course.

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Course: 24th – 26th of September 2024, Hanaholmen Hotel, Helsinki region, Finland

More information: Course web page | Course registration | Last registration date: 19.8.2024.