The impacts of climate change on working life: A situation analysis of the world and Türkiye

ABSTRACT The aim of this thesis is to reveal the impacts of global climate change on working life, to make predictions about this issue, and to offer suggestions that will contribute to minimizing its negative consequences. The study also addresses the opportunities this process may create in working life. This thesis was primarily conducted using data obtained from the literature. The thesis evaluates relevant data and provides detailed analyses of the impacts of climate change on working life globally and in Türkiye. The key finding of this thesis is that, global climate change will have significant impacts on working life globally and in Türkiye. These impacts will particularly on the job structure and characteristics, job types, sectors, sectoral transformation, job efficiency - individual and organizational productivity, occupational health and safety, and human resources policies. Assessments have revealed that, these impacts can be both positive and negative. Measures that can be taken to minimize the negative impacts of the process have been outlined. Within this framework, the necessary actions in this process include the collective action of humanity, the joining of forces, the full implementation of international agreements and conventions, the unwavering pursuit of scientific principles and methods, and the adherence to joint action plans. In this context, minimizing carbon emissions is a common medium-term goal. Data collected from the literature and the evaluations made have revealed that the issue can be evaluated within the framework of migration theories and human resources theories. Within this framework, the fundamental assumptions of migration theories - neoclassical economics: macro migration theory, neoclassical economics: micro migration theory, new economic theory, dual labor market theory, world systems theory, and institutional theory - can be linked to global climate change, and that these fundamental assumptions can explain the impacts of climate change on working life. Similarly, human capital theory, the resource based theory, the universal approach-best practices approach, the contingency approach, cybernetic systems, institutional transaction cost theory, resource dependence theory, organizational ecology theory, and organizational networks theory can explain the impacts of global climate change on working life from different perspectives. In addition, it can be argued that, the fundamental assumptions of these human resource management theories provide supportive approaches to the assessments within the context of the relationship between climate change process and the working life. Key Words: Global climate change, Working life, World, Türkiye, Employment