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ARTICLE · 14 OCTOBER 2021

Climate Emergency, Work And Employment Law

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The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published a report in August 2021 on the urgency of the task of combatting the effect of human activity on the climate.

United KingdomEmployment and HR
James Davies (Lewis Silkin)
James Davies (Lewis Silkin)

How might the climate emergency shape future employment law and practice? We explore some early developments and trends.

The need for change

The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published a report in August 2021 on the urgency of the task of combatting the effect of human activity on the climate. António Gutteres, the UN Secretary General, described the report as 'a code red for humanity'.

The climate emergency will drive change across the world and force a more sustainable approach to business. The year 2021 has seen a succession of extreme climate events, with record snowfall in Madrid and Texas; exceptional temperatures in the Mediterranean countries, the Pacific North West and Russia; and flooding in New York, Germany, China and London. The World Meteorological Organisation has reported a five-fold increase in weather-related disasters over the last fifty years.

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