Abstract

Occupational health risks posed by climate change have focused on heat-related illness and mortality, and a growing body of evidence shows substantial risks to health and economic productivity for many countries. Since the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, the shift away from fossil fuel-based economies has accelerated. Potential population health benefits from improved air quality, more physically active urban communitng and reduced future heating of the planet are substantial. However, unquantified is the extent that technologies in renewable energy sources pose risks to workers. A comparision between fossil fuel-related job risks and those stemming from renewable energy-related jobs will be presented. Gaps in knowledge will be identified to help guide the safest path for workers in our evolving low-carbon society.