How is Climate Change Reshaping Workplace Policies in India?

Climate change is a global phenomenon. Yet, it is adversely affecting national markets as well. Organizations are facing significant challenges in adapting their workplaces to mitigate its effects. Beyond corporate responsibility metrics, ground-level implications like extreme weather events, rising temperatures, and shifting environmental regulations are prompting companies to rethink how they operate. 

The key areas of concern here are:

• How do companies engage with their employees in such a landscape? 

• How do companies safeguard their long-term sustainability? 

With this on their minds, C-suite executives and leadership are tasked with the monumental responsibility of understanding these challenges and implementing strategies that promise resilience. 

Rising Temperatures and Employee Productivity 

India’s rise in average temperatures is linked to employee health and productivity. Industries in non-climate-controlled environments take the brunt of these challenges, which exist more in low-income countries. In India, plant-level output decreased by as much as 3.5% in years that recorded an average of 1°C higher temperature (The World Bank, 2024). 

Beyond industry-driven challenges, employees in unconditioned offices and outdoor environments face significant health risks related to stress and fatigue. 

The Solution: One way to address this is by updating workplace policies to include climate-sensitive measures. In India, the advent of such metrics is still unfounded. New-age startups and businesses must invest in energy-efficient cooling systems and promote flexible working hours to avoid the hottest periods. 

Extreme Weather and Operational Disruption

India’s vulnerability to extreme weather events such as floods, cyclones, and heavy monsoons has been escalating. This puts tremendous strain on business activities and results in heavy deficits.

For many industries, these disruptions damage the infrastructure while also hindering supply chain stability, rendering them incapacitated for an unknown period of time. 

Solution: More focus on business continuity planning is needed. Leaders must assess and reinforce their physical infrastructure, diversify supply chains, and invest in resilient technology solutions. Policies should also include contingency plans for extreme weather events. 

Regulatory Pressures and Sustainability Requirements 

The Indian government is becoming increasingly attentive toward sustainability as a key driver for future growth. In 2023, India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) outlined stricter emissions standards and climate-related disclosures for businesses. Failure to comply with these standards can result in hefty fines. 

There is no way to bypass these regulations. Even for profitable companies that may perceive fines as merely bothersome, there is a significant risk of getting sanctioned in the long run and even losing corporate reputation. 

Solution: The executive must plan by staying ahead of the curve. They must already integrate sustainability into their corporate strategies without any legislative push from the government. Here, key activities include adopting green building certifications, reducing carbon footprints, and introducing policies that incentivize eco-friendly behaviors among employees. 

Conclusion 

The impact of climate change on workplace policies in India is undeniable. Sooner or later, not focusing on potential weather and climate-related adversities can impact businesses in a way that makes complete recovery difficult.

In light of this, organizations need to embrace more climate-resilient policies. The focus should be on maintaining long-term growth and stability. The onus remains on C-suite executives to lead this transformation

References

The World Bank. (2024, March 16). The heat is on: How high temperatures are impacting workers and the global economy. World Bank Blogs. https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/developmenttalk/heat-how-high-temperatures-