Longer working hours have been linked to higher emissions, yet the climate movement seems reluctant to join the campaign for a four-day week—a potential strategic error given the social, health and climate benefits of working less.
My latest piece for Sower ⬇️ 🧵
sower.world/working-less-clima…
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Working less is the most underrated climate solution
Fewer work hours can lower emissions. So why isn’t the climate movement fighting for our collective right to relax?Jack McGovan (Sower)
Jack McGovan
in reply to Jack McGovan • • •Sue is Walking the Earth 🌱
in reply to Jack McGovan • • •Sue is Walking the Earth 🌱
in reply to Sue is Walking the Earth 🌱 • • •This was indeed an excellent read.
I'm constantly imagining more just and sustainable futures and how that will actually *work* for people, and I think I had working less intrinsically in there, but still don't have a super clear vision about how we get there. But eliminating bullshit jobs is definitely part — and now I see the connection between that and working less and that connects with "degrowth" overall.
Sue is Walking the Earth 🌱
in reply to Sue is Walking the Earth 🌱 • • •It's unsurprising to me that eco orgs are unwilling to consider a shorter work week. I'm my own boss & I work way too hard in my passion-work — even as I know that I have to stop burning myself out (I'm getting better at it). I'm not driven by economics but by ardent beliefs (and I suppose terror at the state of the world) but the effect is the same and I think it happens mostly in the context of a world that normalizes overwork.
We need a better world (even for activists!).
Jack McGovan
in reply to Sue is Walking the Earth 🌱 • • •@susankayequinn Thank you so much for reading and for your thoughtful response 🙏 ! Yes, bullshit jobs absolutely have to go, but unfortunately with the rise of AI it seems like the trend is in the other direction.
I also totally agree there is a thoughtful explanation for why eco orgs don't consider a shorter working week. I think people who care about the world just want to throw themselves into defending it with everything they have fully, as you mentioned with yourself – it's like this internalisation of hustle culture that I'm also guilty of. But I really do think there's power in refusing to play the game the system sets up, which is where I think a four-day week can help break that inertia.
(And please do keep imagining those sustainable futures – I really enjoyed your Seven Sisters story for the Imagine 2200 competition!)
Sue is Walking the Earth 🌱
in reply to Jack McGovan • • •Oh! It's always a pleasant surprise to find people have read one of my stories (thank you!).
You're very right about the internalization of hustle culture (or in my case "save the world hero culture") and I really do need to embody a better practice more. I *know* that I do better work when I'm living that more fully, so thanks for the nudge on that.
Cheers!