Foresight Study on the Occupational Safety and Health Implications of Future Climate Change-Related Developments and Crises

This foresight study, commissioned by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), explores the indirect and cascading impacts of climate change on occupational safety and health (OSH) and the future of work in Europe over the next 10 to 25 years. Employing a scenario-based methodology, the study combines a scoping literature review, stakeholder survey, and expert workshops. Four plausible future scenarios are developed to illuminate the complex pathways through which climate change may reshape labour markets, job roles, and workplace risks. The findings highlight that climate action, while essential to address climate change, introduces new challenges and opportunities for OSH, and that a healthy, resilient workforce is critical to achieving a just green transition. The report examines cross-cutting themes, outlines key target elements for 2050, and analyses trade-offs and implications relevant to policymakers, employers and workers ‘representatives, intermediary organisations, workers, and researchers. It underscores the importance of coordinated, inclusive, and adaptive strategies to protect worker health, safety and wellbeing in Europe.