From COVID-19 Pandemic Pivot to Progress: Blended Work as a Pathway to Greener African Cities
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, disrupted work and life patterns worldwide, underscoring the urgency of addressing climate change. Despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Africa faces disproportionate vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. This...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Challenges |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/16/1/10 |
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| author | Patrick Gad Iradukunda Arnaud Iradukunda Pierre Gashema Emile Ngabo Jean de Dieu Tuyishime Tumusime Musafiri Thérèse Umuhoza Ulysse Uwayo Enos Moyo Richard Habimana Claude Mambo Muvunyi Tafadzwa Dzinamarira |
| author_facet | Patrick Gad Iradukunda Arnaud Iradukunda Pierre Gashema Emile Ngabo Jean de Dieu Tuyishime Tumusime Musafiri Thérèse Umuhoza Ulysse Uwayo Enos Moyo Richard Habimana Claude Mambo Muvunyi Tafadzwa Dzinamarira |
| author_sort | Patrick Gad Iradukunda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, disrupted work and life patterns worldwide, underscoring the urgency of addressing climate change. Despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Africa faces disproportionate vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. This commentary explores the benefits of blended work models (remote and in-office work) and the readiness of African cities to adopt them. Notably, the shift to working from home (WFH) during the pandemic improved individual well-being and reduced office energy consumption and commuting-related emissions. Robust digital infrastructure and organizational and sustainable policies are essential to fully leverage blended work for urban sustainability. The unexpected opportunities that arose during the pandemic could help African cities address climate change through careful planning and investment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ebdbb03a541246639d4cc207ec1d4c4e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2078-1547 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Challenges |
| spelling | doaj-art-ebdbb03a541246639d4cc207ec1d4c4e2025-08-20T02:11:01ZengMDPI AGChallenges2078-15472025-02-011611010.3390/challe16010010From COVID-19 Pandemic Pivot to Progress: Blended Work as a Pathway to Greener African CitiesPatrick Gad Iradukunda0Arnaud Iradukunda1Pierre Gashema2Emile Ngabo3Jean de Dieu Tuyishime4Tumusime Musafiri5Thérèse Umuhoza6Ulysse Uwayo7Enos Moyo8Richard Habimana9Claude Mambo Muvunyi10Tafadzwa Dzinamarira11Department of Research, Repolicy Research Centre, Kigali P.O. Box 7584, RwandaDepartment of Research and Innovation, ARNECH Research and Consulting Office, Bujumbura, BurundiDepartment of Research, Repolicy Research Centre, Kigali P.O. Box 7584, RwandaOAZIS Health, Kigali, RwandaDepartment of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, Institut D’enseignement Superieur de Ruhengeri, Ruhengeri P.O. Box 155, RwandaPartners In Health-Inshuti Mu Buzima, Kigali P.O. Box 3432, RwandaAROSE Think Tank, Kigali, RwandaDepartment of Science of Global Health Delivery, University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), Kigali P.O. Box 6955, RwandaUniversity of Zimbabwe, Harare, ZimbabweSchool of Veterinary Medicine, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 4285, RwandaRwanda Biomedical Centre, Kigali P.O. Box 7162, RwandaUniversity of Zimbabwe, Harare, ZimbabweThe COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, disrupted work and life patterns worldwide, underscoring the urgency of addressing climate change. Despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Africa faces disproportionate vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. This commentary explores the benefits of blended work models (remote and in-office work) and the readiness of African cities to adopt them. Notably, the shift to working from home (WFH) during the pandemic improved individual well-being and reduced office energy consumption and commuting-related emissions. Robust digital infrastructure and organizational and sustainable policies are essential to fully leverage blended work for urban sustainability. The unexpected opportunities that arose during the pandemic could help African cities address climate change through careful planning and investment.https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/16/1/10blended workCOVID-19greenhouse gasesclimate changesustainable urbanizationAfrican cities |
| spellingShingle | Patrick Gad Iradukunda Arnaud Iradukunda Pierre Gashema Emile Ngabo Jean de Dieu Tuyishime Tumusime Musafiri Thérèse Umuhoza Ulysse Uwayo Enos Moyo Richard Habimana Claude Mambo Muvunyi Tafadzwa Dzinamarira From COVID-19 Pandemic Pivot to Progress: Blended Work as a Pathway to Greener African Cities Challenges blended work COVID-19 greenhouse gases climate change sustainable urbanization African cities |
| title | From COVID-19 Pandemic Pivot to Progress: Blended Work as a Pathway to Greener African Cities |
| title_full | From COVID-19 Pandemic Pivot to Progress: Blended Work as a Pathway to Greener African Cities |
| title_fullStr | From COVID-19 Pandemic Pivot to Progress: Blended Work as a Pathway to Greener African Cities |
| title_full_unstemmed | From COVID-19 Pandemic Pivot to Progress: Blended Work as a Pathway to Greener African Cities |
| title_short | From COVID-19 Pandemic Pivot to Progress: Blended Work as a Pathway to Greener African Cities |
| title_sort | from covid 19 pandemic pivot to progress blended work as a pathway to greener african cities |
| topic | blended work COVID-19 greenhouse gases climate change sustainable urbanization African cities |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/16/1/10 |
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