Some companies will be able to afford to mitigate the effects of climate change on their workforce – others won’t, says Leo Lewis for Financial Times.
Passersby holding umbrellas walk under a strong sunlight at the Sensoji temple as Japan ese government issued heat stroke alerts in 39 of the country's 47 prefectures in Tokyo, Japan , on Jul 22, 2024. TOKYO: When the doors opened on Wednesday morning at Tokyo’s 10th annual Heat Solution expo, the temperature outside was nudging 35 degrees Celsius andwere in place for much of Japan .
Corporations, governments and supranational organisations may talk about climate change mitigation, net zero emissions and other macro attempts to hold back catastrophe; but on the ground, runs the message being pushed to factory owners, food producers, construction companies and other businesses, the medicine you need right now is palliative, not preventive.
The complexity behind that figure, said Citi’s analysts, lies in working out who will actually bear this cost. That then opens up discussions, they added, on “potential policy support, taxation, de-risking via blended finance and even the concept of innovative new financial instruments”. The factory owner, though quite able to see through a peddler’s patter, also acknowledged that rising temperatures would freight his duty of care as an employer with far more cost than it used to. The mathematics of providing each of his workers with US$800 worth of cooling equipment were not attractive, but if he failed to do so “my staff will just go and work somewhere that keeps them cool”.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Commentary: It’ll take more than health risks to turn consumers off Shein and cheap clothingEnvironmental and ethical issues may not be the primary concern for some fast-fashion consumers. But will health risks from exposure to chemicals like phthalates be enough to change behaviour? NUS Business School’s Joe Escobedo weighs in.
Read more »
Commentary: Should employers monitor more than mouse clicks of remote staff?Bosses are encouraged to help employees manage a clash of domestic and work responsibilities, says Anjli Raval for Financial Times.
Read more »
Commentary: South Korean doctors’ strike is a medical drama with no heroesMore than 12,000 South Korean doctors have gone on strike in a months-long protest against medical reforms. It may be the wrong position to take, but the government has much to account for too, say Erik Mobrand from Seoul National University and Hyejin Kim from National University of Singapore.
Read more »
Commentary: The Biden administration’s pursuit of Julian Assange was becoming both damaging and untenableIn a crucial election year that President Joe Biden is framing as an existential fight for the soul of US democracy, the continued pursuit of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was as inconsistent as it was ultimately untenable, says this RMIT academic.
Read more »
Commentary: For young doctors, the price of breaking bonds could be higher than they thinkIn truth, the push factors for young doctors to leave public service have been around for decades.
Read more »
Commentary: Will Iran’s new president bring in a new era of foreign policy?Diplomacy, sanctions and soft power have failed to deter Iran’s anti-West agenda. A new Iranian president provides an opportunity to reset relations - or not, say two academics.
Read more »