Canadian HR Reporter

CANADIAN HR REPORTER SEPTEMBER 2019 8 NEWS flooding incidents as a result of higher temperatures, and em- ployers should brace for more ex- treme weather, alongside shifting economic and commerce pat- terns, he says. "Even under the most opti- mistic scenarios, there will be further warming of the planet and that will have consequences to our economy and Canadi- ans," says Macklem, dean of the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. "ere's no doubt climate change is going to have a big impact. "e science is pretty clear," he says. "And while perhaps you can't be 100-per-cent certain, there is overwhelming evidence that global temperatures are ris- ing, and that is directly linked to human activity and, particularly, emissions of greenhouse gases. "Even if you weren't totally convinced, it would seem com- pletely reckless to ignore all that evidence and take the risk. e evidence is pretty compelling." The Canadian government thinks so, too, says Samantha Bayard, spokesperson for Envi- ronment and Climate Change Canada in Ottawa. "The impacts of climate change are already being felt — increased f loods, wildfires, droughts, extreme weather events — and Canadians are pay- ing for the costs," she says, citing increases in insurance claims as an example. The Pan-Canadian Frame- work on Clean Growth and Cli- mate Change, developed in 2016, is working to reduce emissions in workplaces across Canada. is includes improved building codes and funding for energy ef- ficiency programs, says Bayard. Rising temperatures Even when using a conservative estimate of a rise by 1.5 C by the end of the century, 2.2 per cent of total worldwide working hours will be lost by 2030 — equivalent to $3.2 trillion in global economic loss, says Saget of the ILO. Most experts believe this figure will more likely be 2.5 or three de- grees globally, she says. "Even with a conservative, minimalist approach to climate change — which is the one we take in this report, because we know it's a controversial issue — even with that, we find that the results are pretty heartbreaking," says Saget. "We found a huge negative impact on workers and on enter- prises and on the economy. "e impact of heat stress on labour productivity is a serious consequence of climate change, which adds to other adverse im- pacts such as changing rain pat- terns, rising sea levels and loss of biodiversity," she says. "In addition to the massive economic costs of heat stress, we can expect to see more inequality between low- and high-income countries and worsening work- ing conditions for the most vul- nerable, as well as displacement of people." Heat stress refers to tempera- tures in excess of what the body can tolerate without suffering physiological impairment, and it generally occurs at temperatures above 35 C in high humidity, ac- cording to the ILO report. It increases discomfort, limits physical functions and can lead to injuries, including fatal heat- stroke. Workers begin to slow down when temperatures hit 24 C, and productivity is reduced to half when mercury rises past 33 C, says Saget. Southern Asia and western Af- rica will be most affected, with as many as six per cent of working hours being lost, she says. As temperatures rise, migra- tion will increase, which could influence Canadian immigration, she says. "ere is a relationship between heat stress and the fact that people leave their country. Heat stress is affecting not only the living envi- ronment but also the possibility to make a gainful living, to earn a liv- ing… So, we see a linkage to migra- tion, which is important to men- tion when talking about Canada." And while Canada may face less heat stress due to its geographical location, larger cities may still be affected, says Saget. "They can get significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas, and that is because of the accumulation of heat in buildings and also the lack of vegetable cov- er," she says, noting a downtown core could be six to eight degrees warmer than the outskirts. Effect on employers Employers and workers are in the best position to assess risks and take appropriate action, says Saget. "To adapt to this new reality, appropriate measures by govern- ments, employers and workers — focusing on protecting the most vulnerable — are urgently needed," she says. "It's not just a question of em- ployers — workers can protect themselves by dressing more ap- propriately and drinking regularly." Improving the energy efficiency of buildings can also boost em- ployee productivity, says Bayard. "Retrofitting for better insula- tion, for example, can improve employee comfort and well-be- ing," she says. "Likewise, emis- sion reductions from improved efficiency can help reduce the impacts of climate change, which has negative health impacts, in- cluding increasing the risk of conditions like heatstroke, asthma and allergies that could reduce productivity." It's also the key to succeeding in the developing low-carbon econ- omy, says Bayard. "Meeting the global challenge of climate change is an opportu- nity to mobilize skilled workers, natural resources and [the] fast- growing tech sector to fight cli- mate change while creating jobs for Canadians." e true impact of a warming planet spans much wider than employees working outdoors in countries near the equator, says Macklem. Aside from the direct physical effects, employers must also be aware of social effects in terms of recruitment and corporate social responsibility, he says. Younger workers are acutely aware of climate change, for ex- ample, as they have many prime working years still ahead of them, he says. "They're really looking for companies that align with their values," says Macklem. "And, in- creasingly, companies that have a proactive strategy to address climate change, those are compa- nies that millennials want to work at. So, having a clearly articulated and proactive approach to cli- mate change is good for attract- ing workers." Compared to 15 or 20 years ago, there's greater willingness from organizations to act on climate change, says Saget. Even a minor change — such as allowing staff opportunities to telework — can prove beneficial. "Many enterprises are taking initiative to answer the conse- quences of climate change on their business," she says. "Ideally, we would like member states… to adopt a national policy for oc- cupational safety and health — something that most industrial- ized developed countries have but not our member states." Global efforts such as the Paris Agreement — signed in 2016 in an effort to keep this century's temperature gains to below two per cent — are much needed, says Macklem. Industry adjustment is also necessary, he says. "Our buildings need to be more resilient to extreme weather… our transportation systems, our energy systems. If we don't make them more resilient, we will face more disruptions to them, which will affect all our lives, and it will also disrupt the economy." Increased immigration linked to heat stress CLIMATE < pg. 1 Due to climate change, employers may face more flooding, as seen in Huntsville, Ont. in April 2019. Credit: Mary Anne Love (Shutterstock) "We can expect to see more inequality between low- and high-income countries and worsening working conditions for the most vulnerable." 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