A recent report found that shifting to a four-day working week with no loss of salary would dramatically reduce the UK’s carbon footprint, helping the country meet its required climate targets.
The move would shrink the country’s emissions by 127 million tonnes per year by 2025, reducing more than 21% – equivalent to taking the country’s entire private car fleet off the road (around 27m cars.) Advocates highlight that reducing working hours would also create jobs, improve people’s physical and mental health, and strengthen communities and families.
The study was conducted by the environmental organization Platform London and the 4-Day Week Campaign. It found that the shift would play a significant role in tackling the growing climate emergency by cutting emissions from transport and high-energy workplaces and reducing the carbon footprint of imported goods consumed in the UK.
Green party MP Caroline Lucas, a British politician supporting the idea, said:
It would not only help deliver on the promise to build back better, but it would also have a major impact on carbon emissions. It would improve people’s health, give them the time to give back to their communities as so many want to do, and help address the climate emergency.
Reducing working hours would minimize workplace energy use and decrease transport emissions by cutting back on commuting.
The report also found that giving workers an extra day off increased their “low-carbon” activities, including relaxing, exercising, community-building, and visiting family – reducing overall consumption. “Shifting to a four-day working week with fair pay for all can help us change the way value is created in society by making more space for care, rest and relationships,” explained environmental researcher Laurie Mompelat, a report author at Platform London.
Mompelat added:
A shorter working week without loss of pay is a crucial investment in human capital, at a time where everyone’s contribution, care, and creativity are required to bring about a more sustainable society.
Joe Ryle, a campaigner with the 4 Day Week Campaign, said:
We already know that the four-day week is good for workers’ mental health and wellbeing, but this report proves that it can be a great move for the environment too. The environmental movement must get behind the calls for a shorter working week as it could make a real difference in the race to limit the worst effects of climate change.
The UK isn’t the only country that realized a four-day working week is beneficial. In August 2019, Microsoft Japan gave all its 2,300 workers a three-day weekend without decreasing their salary. The staff received Fridays off, working only four days but getting paid for five. The result was a significant improvement in productivity, more efficient meetings, happier workers and customers.
