Image from: ©Green Chameleon
If ever there was a time for change, we are right in the middle of it. COVID-19 has upended our social and private lives, but also our professional environment. What if this episode was the trigger for a transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon economy?
Teleworking, a fundamental trend
While nearly one out of two Quebecers has found themselves teleworking, employees and employers alike now see the opportunities created by this practice and the benefits it can bring. We are currently witnessing the large-scale deployment of telework. Large companies such as Twitter and Facebook, or the automotive group PSA have decided to extend this measure beyond the period of social distancing for a significant part of their employees. This trend is likely to continue in the coming months, so it is becoming urgent to look into the pros and cons of teleworking. Is it desirable? Is it sustainable? Is it capable of reducing our carbon footprint? How do these weigh against the negative consequences?
The social impact of telework has been documented for several years around the world and is a major issue for its widespread acceptance and implementation. A Léger survey reveals that among Canadians teleworking during the crisis, 79% of them say they like the experience. We perceive similar results across the Atlantic, where a CSA study dated May 6, 2020, carried out on 1010 French employees, reveals that 73% of teleworkers wish to continue teleworking after the lifting of the confinement. These very promising results are mainly due to improved work-life balance, reduced commuting time, flexible working hours and reduced stress. Moreover, the democratisation of telework has an important effect on equal opportunities, as it allows a better integration of some disabled people in companies.
It should be noted, however, that the potential loss of social links with colleagues can negatively influence well-being at work, a subject on which there are still relatively few studies.
On the economic side, telework has already proved its worth in many companies. In Quebec, we can take the example of TELUS, the telephone operator, which since 2006 has been operating with 70% of its employees teleworking. This choice have enabled the company to achieve cost reductions estimated at $50 million over the period from 2006 to 2016. While the primary benefit highlighted by TELUS is lower rental costs, a recent study shows that 79% of executives and 89% of employees believe work efficiency has improved. Not all existing enterprises are necessarily capable of accommodating the same number of teleworkers on a permanent basis, so an investment in equipment may be required. To make this change, employees requiring training can rely on the Concerted Action Programme for Job Retention. Implemented by the government, this program helps companies get through the crisis, thanks to a $100 million fund.
Despite the challenges posed by security, network capacity or employee training, teleworking has deployed at high speed in recent months and is now becoming a standard.
What are the environmental benefits?
As we have just seen, the economic and social benefits are numerous, so it is legitimate to think that the number of people teleworking will increase significantly and rapidly. However, what will be the consequences for the environment and the climate?
On the positive side, the reduction of car traffic during peak hours leads to a reduction in noise pollution and improves air quality. The reduction in commuting and business air travel, replaced by teleconferencing, has the direct consequence of reducing GHG emissions. Similarly, lower electricity and heating consumption in offices can significantly reduce a company’s environmental footprint depending on its location. These benefits are local and therefore unavoidable.
On the negative side, the environmental impact of digital technology is not negligible. Emissions from powering servers accounted for 4% of global GHG emissions and increasing by 9% per year according to projections before the health crisis. When we talk about teleworking, we immediately think of videoconferencing. The Zoom platform, for example, has gone from 10 million users in December 2019 to 300 million today. Knowing that video conferencing accounts for 80% of internet traffic, we can expect the increase in the sector’s GHG emissions will only accelerate. There is also the risk of displacing emissions, among other things because of the expansion of IT infrastructure, most of which is produced in manufacturing countries such as China.
Despite these negative effects, it is likely that, in most cases, teleworking will reduce our carbon footprint, particularly in Québec, where decarbonized electricity is particularly favourable. However, the GHG balance sheet of telework is more complex than it appears and must be studied on a case-by-case basis, particularly in relation to the work habits within the company.
In order to facilitate this eco-responsible transition, the Quebec government has set up the Fonds Écoleader. Its objective is to help more than 50,000 businesses by 2023 in their efforts to implement green business practices and use clean technologies. Among the projects funded are the GHG inventory and emission reduction action plans. These documents make it possible, in particular, to quantify the expected benefits of telework.
The carbon neutral transition is underway in our personal professional lives. It is by rethinking the way we operate that we will get a little closer to a sustainable, resilient and environmentally friendly future.