Research Network on Work, Labour and Climate Change

Description

Network mission

Tackling the challenges of climate change calls for dramatic changes in the way societies produce and consume. Nevertheless, there is a huge gap in studies investigating the relationship between climate change action and society, in particular how it will affect jobs and working conditions, and livelihoods.

This network on Work, Labour and Climate Change across the University of Leeds gathers expertise, stimulates debate and is committed to delivering ideas for society, labour and businesses on how to produce and live in a zero-carbon environment and a more ecological sustainable way more generally. The network is ambitious in striving to mitigate climate change.

Activities and events

The Network is currently working on three research projects preparing for submission to funding bodies:

1. The Social and Political Economy of Working Time Reduction
2. Just Transition, (In-)Equality and worker voice in climate change
3. The Future of work and the transition of carbon intensive sectors

Events

The Network has set up the “Lunch Bag Seminar Series” where members and colleagues exchange research ideas on climate change from a social sciences perspective.

Previous events:

Food waste behaviour before and after the Covid-19 lockdown: Implications for Courtauld Commitment 2025 
Thursday 18 February 2021, 12 – 1pm
Dr Gulbanu Kaptan, Associate Professor in Behavioural Decision Making, Leeds University Business School

The climate crisis: public perceptions and reasoning
Monday 1 March 2021, 12 – 1pm
Sarah Irwin, Professor of Sociology, University of Leeds, and Director of the Centre for Research on Families, the Life Course and Generations (FLaG).

Stakeholder expectations of green management: a cross-national institutional approach
Thursday 28 January 2021, 12pm-1pm
Dr Ziko Konwar, Assistant Professor of International Business, Leeds University Business School

What will happen to sustainability in supply chains – Post-Covid-19?
Thursday 17 December 2020, 12pm-1pm
Dr Gary Graham, Associate Professor, Management Division, Leeds University Business School

Performance Chasms in International Sustainability Standards: When Improved Sustainability Performance Doesn’t Pay
Tuesday 24 November 2020, 12pm-1pm
Dr Effie Kesidou, Associate Professor in Applied Economics, Leeds University Business School

Sustainable Development Goals
Wednesday 23 September 2020, 12pm-1pm
Dr Jyoti Mishra, Associate Professor in Information Management and Dr Constantinos Hadjichristidis, Lecturer in the Centre for Decision Research. Leeds University Business School

 

Network members

Leeds University Business School academics:

• Dr Gabriella Alberti, Work and Employment Relations
• Dr Zlatko Bodrozic, Management Division
• Dr Hugh Cook, Work and Employment Relations
• Dr Jo Cutter, Work and Employment Relations
• Dr Kate Hardy, Work and Employment Relations
• Dr Yujie Hu, Work and Employment Relations
• Dr Effie Kesidou, Economics Division
• Dr Chris McLachlan, Work and Employment Relations
• Professor David Spencer, Economics Division
• Dr Vera Trappmann, Work and Employment Relations
• Professor Kerrie Unsworth, Management Division
• Professor Chee Yew Wong, Management Division

University of Leeds academics:

• Dr Miklos Antal, Faculty of Environment
• Dr Milena Büchs, Faculty of Environment
• Dr Jonathan Busch, Faculty of Environment & seconded to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) to work on the Inclusive Clean Industrial Strategy
• Professor Andy Gouldson, Priestley Centre
• Professor Sarah Irwin, Faculty of Social Sciences
• Dr Dan O’Neill, Faculty of Environment
• Dr Alice Owen, Faculty of Environment and Leeds City Regional LEP Green Economy Panel member
• Dr Sally Russell, Faculty of Environment

Academics from other UK Universities:

• Jenny Patient, University of Sheffield

Contact: Dr Vera Trappmann

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Project 1

Combating climate change: The role of organised labour

Dr Vera Trappmann and Dr Jo Cutter, Work and Employment Relations

Project overview

While there is existing knowledge about the actions of states and supra-national bodies, corporations and business, and community-level action, the role of labour for climate change mitigation has, until very recently, been absent from climate change debate and analysis. We are interested in understanding:

The aim of this project is to locate successful initiatives to combat climate change among organised labour comparing the UK and Germany. It will analyse four different levels of climate change action involving unions:

1.   Supranational bodies in regulating for a green economy

2.   The government, national policies and national union organisation’ policies

3.   Regional activities and initiatives with union involvement

4.   Innovations at the workplace level.

The project has been awarded £21,778  from Leeds University Business School’s Challenge Fund in 2019/20.

Contact: Dr Vera Trappmann