Fighting Climate Change With A 4-Day Week

To fight climate change, institute a four-day workweek

Alex Williams, October 10, 2016 (Quartz)

“…[Three-day weekends might] be one of the easiest steps we could take to radically reduce our environmental impact—and future-proof our economy…A reduction in working hours generally correlates with marked reductions in energy consumption…[If Americans followed European levels of working hours, they] would see an estimated 20% reduction in energy use—and hence in carbon emissions…[I]nstituting a three-day weekend could be the simplest and most elegant way to make our economy more environmentally friendly…[In 2007, Utah extended hours on Monday to Thursday and eliminated] Fridays…In its first ten months, the move saved the state at least $1.8 million (£1.36 million) in energy costs…[But] Utah abandoned the experiment in 2011 after residents complained they were unable to access services on Fridays…[The change has to be accompanied by a shift in our expectations but the] key to capturing the benefits of automation without drastic social dislocation depends in part on developing] an extended weekend, together with a universal basic income…” click here for more

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