Interventions to promote mental and physical health in changing working environments due to climate change, sustainable work practices, and work in green jobs: The EU INTERCAMBIO project

Introduction: Work environments are rapidly changing in Europe, with climate change, the transition to the circular economy, and expansion of work in green jobs among key factors. Research and interventions are urgently needed to promote worker health and well-being. The European Union (EU) INTERCAMBIO project is the first large-scale initiative to systematically assess mental and physical health effects of climate change and green transition-related occupational exposures through intervention-based research using a common methodological framework across multiple industries and countries. Methods: INTERCAMBIO will 1) promote advanced research methods throughout the work; 2) evaluate occupational heat, cold, and solar ultraviolet radiation exposures and potential short- and long-term mental and physical health effects in observational studies; 3) evaluate impacts of specific workplace interventions in five key industries, namely outdoor construction, healthcare, public transit, renewable energy, and waste management/recycling; 4) model socio-economic impacts of interventions and develop a policy framework for social protection and decent green jobs; and 5) coordinate stakeholder engagement and develop a new health research agenda. Results: Targeted multidisciplinary workplace interventions developed with co-creation methodology in a broad range of strategic, rapidly evolving industries will be evaluated, considering the multifaceted impact of climate change and the green transition on workers. Conclusion: INTERCAMBIO will fill important data gaps and provide an evidence-base for protecting workers' health. While INTERCAMBIO focuses on specific industries in the European context, further intervention-based research is also needed more broadly in industries worldwide.