This paper explores the theoretical and conceptual nexus between climate change, workers’ health, decent work, human rights, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) using the case of agricultural workers in Brazil. It posits the overall relationships between climate change risks and working conditions, relevant international legal standards and norms on worker rights, and the features of worker conditions in Brazilian agriculture. It offers a compelling research agenda with five operational pillars: (1) research, (2) surveillance and monitoring, (3) risk assessment, (4) risk management, and (5) policies and regulations. The holistic framework it develops avoids monocausal explanations, incomplete solutions, fragmented interventions, and unintended consequences, which impact the livelihoods and health of Brazilian agricultural workers. The paper concludes by highlighting that through research using a human rights perspective, Brazil can protect workers' health in the face of climate change.
Citation
Rodriguez Huerta, E., Leao, L., & Landmann, T. (in press). Climate Change, Decent Work and Workers’ Health in Brazil: Theoretical Considerations. Revista Brasileira de Saúde Ocupacional,
Journal Article Type
Article
Acceptance Date
Mar 6, 2025
Deposit Date
Mar 10, 2025
Publicly Available Date
Mar 10, 2025
Journal
Revista Brasileira de Saúde Ocupacional
Print ISSN
0303-7657
Electronic ISSN
2317-6369
Peer Reviewed
Peer Reviewed
Keywords
Sustainable Development, Climate change, Workers’ Health, Decent work, Human Rights
This project is funded by the British Academy’s ODA Challenge-Oriented Research Grants 2024 Programme (IOCRG\100945), supported under the UK Government’s International Science Partnerships Fund.
