Establishment of a four-day period. work week in recent years, with pilot applications in Japan, New Zealand, Ireland, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States and Iceland, it has had a positive impact on various areas of life.

The health and well-being of employees improved and productivity increased. According to Deutsche Welle, several studies even talk about environmental and climate benefits.

Reducing working hours equals reducing CO2 emissions

“We found that countries with long working hours have high CO2 emissions, while countries with shorter working hours have lower emissions,” says Juliet Shor, an economist and professor of sociology at Boston College in the United States, whose research confirms a clear link between climate impact and working hours, at least in high-income countries.

A 2012 study by Julier Shor looked at OECD countries under the microscope between 1970 and 2007 and concluded that a 10% reduction in working hours could cut carbon emissions by almost 15%.

But how is CO2 savings achieved? According to the study, reducing working hours by one day can: reduce workplace energy consumption, reduce commuting carbon emissions, thereby promoting sustainable lifestyles. In addition, telecommuting can lead to a similar reduction in emissions, as there is no longer a need to commute to and from work.

Source: DV