LIN CEO Jason Glaser and Diageo Global Sustainable Sourcing Specialist Alexander Sykes will lead a session at the Responsible Sourcing and Ethical Trade Forum. The event will take place in London, from March 20 to 21. It is hosted by the Innovation Forum, an organization specializing in sustainability events and publishing.
Glaser and Sykes will discuss how their organizations are working together to drive positive social impact — by protecting workers from the heat stress.
The increase in frequency, duration, and intensity of heat events, like heat waves and extreme temperatures, are of particular concern as we contend with the effects of climate change. This is not a problem for the tropics alone. Over the past 30 years Europe has experienced a temperature increase twice the global average.
Last summer’s record heat in Europe killed an estimated 61,600 people. Unfortunately, workers do not have the choice to avoid the outside environment if it becomes too hot.
The toll that heat has on workers will affect the entire European economy. Heat stress among the European workforce will result in a reduction of working hours by roughly 2 percent, and its cost on the European economy is estimated at 830 billion euros annually.
Recognizing a growing concern, La Isla Network and Diageo are collaborating with the foremost European researchers — Andreas Flouris and the FAME Lab, for example — on heat stress and occupational health to tackle this emerging issue across various sectors in Europe.
Glaser said, “Innovation Forum has long highlighted the work LIN does, and I’m looking forward to working with Ian Welsh and Natasha C. Bodnar again and my wonderful colleague Alex Sykes from Diageo.”
Sykes said, “This is an incredibly important area for Diageo as we look to develop and evolve how we protect working conditions in our supply chain with the expertise and guidance of LIN and our partners in the supply chain. I’m looking forward to sharing our journey to date at the Responsible Sourcing and Ethical Trade forum.”
La Isla Network supports and implements evidence-based protocols to improve the resiliency of workforces and supply chains in changing climates. For more information please contact in**@la***********.org.
