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The Climate Benefits of a Four-Day Workweek
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The Climate Benefits of a Four-Day Workweek

Giada Ferraglioni and Sergio Colombo
BBC, 2023
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8

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  • Hot Topic

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Could a boon for worker well-being also provide a boost for the planet? The results of the world’s largest-ever four-day workweek experiment say yes: Employees benefit, and employers don’t suffer when they downshift from the 40-hour workweek. Some firms even found additional positive side effects, journalists Giada Ferraglioni and Sergio Colombo report. When employees commute less, it leads to a drop in emissions. And when workers have more free time, they’re more willing and able to engage in sustainable behaviors.

Take-Aways

  • A four-day workweek could help reduce global carbon emissions.
  • Employees tend to use their extra leisure time for environmentally friendly activities.
  • Government support could encourage more private companies to embrace a four-day workweek.

About the Authors

Giada Ferraglioni is a freelance journalist focusing on foreign, environmental and social policy. Sergio Colombo is a global affairs journalist and editor.

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