Background information

Drawing from ETUCs Adaptation to Climate Change and the world of work: a guide for trade unions, the Finnish peak-level Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK has developed their own guide for trade unions to prepare for the impact of climate change on working life.

SAK recognises that there is a scarcity of climate information specifically focused on the worker perspective. The aim of the guide is to present climate information in a way that is understandable, and to build bridges from this information to the everyday life of the worker. The aim is for the information to be integrated into workplace cooperation, work organisation, and occupational safety measures.

Content of measure

The guide is especially aimed at SAK’s member unions, occupational safety representatives, and trade union representatives at workplaces.

The guide is an information package for trade unions on the impacts of climate change and how to adapt to these impacts in different sectors. It contains general information on the weather and climate conditions of the near future and their impact on the economy and human health. It also provides an overview of the sectoral impacts of climate change: how working conditions, job content and even wider employment prospects will change in different sectors as a result of climate change. Finally, the guide outlines ways in which trade unions, together with various partners, can take action to promote adaptation to climate change.

Use of measure

Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK represents 18 member unions and 800,000 employees.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Does not apply to businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Trade unions	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative	No involvement
Form	Unknown	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Only trade unions
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

This is a trade union inititive

Views and reactions

This is a trade union inititive. No comment from peak-level employer's organisation available.

Sources

• 02 February 2022: Climate change adaptation and working life: a guid [Ilmastonmuutokseen sopeutuminen ja työelämä-opas] (www.akt.fi)