The leading research and advisory organization safeguarding from climate-driven risks
Photo credit: Ed Kashi
From helping one community of sugarcane cutters in Nicaragua, to scaling up our efforts worldwide, La Isla Network remains dedicated to its mission of protecting workers in a changing climate.
Mission and Vision
Our Mission
La Isla Network protects workers in a changing climate.
Our Vision
We envision a world where workers are protected from risks in the workplace driven by climate change, ensuring businesses are productive and governments and multilateral institutions benefit from a protected workforce.
Core Beliefs
Our Work and Core Beliefs
At our core we hold on to some beliefs that drive our work forward. La Isla Network believes that:
- Change rests on the collection of verifiable data; the implementation of change should be evidence-driven and context-specific.
- When workers are protected, their communities prosper.
- The effects of climate change, especially extreme heat, are presenting challenges to businesses and workers around the world, but this is addressable.
- Addressing heat stress presents an opportunity for businesses to reduce harm and protect their workers, increase their productivity, and generate a return-on-investment
- The right to a safe and healthy working environment is a key human right for all workers.
- There has been a tendency to overlook the needs of male workers in development and corporate social responsibility initiatives, despite their significant representation in the heavy labor force. This oversight is troubling, considering that male workers often face disproportionately high rates of injury, illness, and disease. As a result, their families and communities, including women, children, and migrants, are left vulnerable.
a piece of our history
La Isla Network arose from on-the-ground efforts to help a community of workers
banana land
While filming a documentary about the banana industry, Banana Land, La Isla Network CEO Jason Glaser learned of a community of sugarcane workers devastated by chronic kidney disease. Young, previously healthy men in their late teens through early thirties were dying of a disease more commonly found in people with high blood pressure, type 1 diabetes, and the elderly.
The number of deaths due to kidney failure were so large that the municipality was forced to purchase additional land to accommodate the increase in burials. The community called itself La Isla de Viudas, or the Island of Widows. La Isla Network is named in honor of this community of workers and their families.
Neither the community nor the sugar mill, Ingenio San Antonio, understood why the cane workers were becoming ill and dying in such significant numbers. Various other causes were suspected, such as exposure to chemicals and contaminated water. Glaser advocated for research that addressed the epidemic’s cause and its solution. He brought together leading researchers from around the world to investigate, creating La Isla Network.
Cane workers cut up to seven tons of cane per day, sometimes more, while working in extreme heat. Through our research we discovered that heavy work in extreme heat with inadequate labor protections were at the heart of the disaster.
Next, we conducted research into interventions to prevent further harm. We found that a protocol of rest, shade, and hydration throughout the workday to be effective in preventing harm. Putting in place the protocol has required follow-through to assist in its precise implementation. Now, the risk of kidney injury has dropped, and Ingenio San Antonio has become La Isla Network’s most valued partner.
Ingenio San Antonio and its workers have become the 21st-century good practice model for combatting the harmful effects of heat stress, a model we call the Center of Excellence. It is a data-driven model via which we conduct research and build evidence on-site, which is then translated into practice and policy. La Isla Network is creating similar Centers of Excellence around the world in other industries. We believe it will be the leading model for worker and organizational protection from occupational safety and health risks.
