At this year's TUC, Congress voted in favour of key climate policies. Composite 18 from Unison and PCS makes clear how climate is a class and Trade Union issue. The motion calls for an urgent end to fossil fuels, a national climate service, public ownership, huge investment in the jobs needed for a radical transition. It commits the TUC to a year of green Trade Union campaigning.
Join us to discuss the significance of this important motion, and how we turn these words into action.
Composite 5, from Unite and GMB, was passed narrowly on a card vote. It argued for the continued use of gas as part of the energy mix, and stressed 'no ban without a plan' regarding new licences for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea. It was opposed by many unions who want to see a ban and a plan.
Join us to discuss how we can shift the debate further in all unions.
Speakers:
Sarah Woolley General Secretary, BFAWU
John Moloney, Assistant General Secretary, PCS
Sean Vernell, UCU NEC
Liz Wheatley, Unison NEC
Clara Paillard, Unite Grassroots Climate Justice Caucus
Meeting organised by the Campaign against Climate Change Trade Union Group, co-sponsored by Unite Grassroots Climate Caucus and the Greener Jobs Alliance
The climate crisis is a class and trade union issue, already impacting the lives and livelihoods of working class people globally. Tackling it requires urgent action on fossil fuels and active leadership across the union movement is essential. This is not an issue any trade unionist can ignore.
Itās about communities having homes that are affordable to heat, decent public transport and clean air. Itās about public ownership of key services, and workplace health and safety. Itās about climate jobs, with a massive deployment of skilled labour needed across many sectors.
An end to fossil fuels, a just transition and a plan to deliver this and huge public investment in the transformation of the economy have never been more urgent.
Speakers:
Daniel Kebede, General Secretary, NEU
John Moloney, Assistant General Secretary, PCS
Liz Wheatley, Unison
Nick Mead, BFAWU
Chaired by Suzanne Jeffery, Campaign against Climate Change trade union group
On Saturday 22 June, we'll demonstrate with thousands to demand restoration of nature and action for a liveable climate.
It will be just 12 days before the General Election - let's make our voices heard!
Over 150 organisations are supporting this national demonstration. There's more information about the day available on the Restore Nature Now website, including the march aims, route and accessibility information.
Assemble from 12 noon at Park Lane, London - meeting point near the north end of Park Lane (Marble Arch tube) at marker 32,near the corner with Wood's Mews.
Fighting for a huge transformation of the economy in the interests of people and the planet should be at the top of the trade union agenda. But it isn't. So how do we make sure the strength of the working class and trade union movement is at the heart of tackling the climate emergency?
Thank you to all who came and contributed to the lively discussions on these crucial issues. Thanks to volunteers stepping in to help with this, we have recordings of the plenary speakers and of the presentations in seven out of the eight workshops, available at the link above.
Resources
Text of presentations from the energy workshop (not recorded):
On Sunday 21st January, we'll be holding both the Campaign against Climate Change AGM and also our trade union group AGM. Both will be online. Our supporters are welcome to attend both or just one.
In 2023 our planet experienced unprecedented heating, breaking global temperature records by huge margins. In the face of this, there has also been a backlash against climate action in the UK, leading to Sunak's damaging backtracking. This year, the coming UK election does bring hope for desperately needed change. However, the power of vested interests cannot be underestimated. They push for the continuation of 'business as usual', but we know this is a myth. Inevitably, radical change faces us, whether it brings social justice and environmental protection, or further widens the gap between rich and poor in a climate changed world.
We'll be looking forward to 2024 and the fight to get the UK to finally kick its fossil fuel addiction. How can we get the Labour Party to commit to real investment in a climate just future, and how can we fight fossil fuel greenwash? This is a global struggle too. Amid mass protests for Palestine, the links between climate justice, neocolonial militarism and the fossil fuel industry are clearer than ever.
In our trade union group AGM these themes will continue to shape the discussion, but with a focus on the dividing lines in the trade union movement right now, and how to overcome these; building a clear consensus on climate change as a class issue, and looking towards our conference on 13 April.
The annual summit of all the countries which are part of the UNās climate change treaty is known as the COP (Conference of Parties). The '28' in 'COP28' means that this will be the 28th such event. Many climate campaigners were not even born when this process started.
Yet after almost three decades global emissions are still increasing, even as temperatures rise and the impacts of climate breakdown multiply across all continents, hitting worst those who have done least to cause the problem.
From 30 Nov to 12 Dec, this year's summit will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates, a country planning a massive expansion of oil and gas production, and with no record of respecting human rights. It will be presided over by Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, head of their national oil company.
The global day of action will be on Saturday 9 December.
The annual summit of all the countries which are part of the UNās climate change treaty is known as the COP (Conference of Parties). The '28' in 'COP28' means that this will be the 28th such event. Many climate campaigners were not even born when this process started.
Yet after almost three decades global emissions are still increasing, even as temperatures rise and the impacts of climate breakdown multiply across all continents, hitting worst those who have done least to cause the problem.
From 30 Nov to 12 Dec, this year's summit will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates, a country planning a massive expansion of oil and gas production, and with no record of respecting human rights. It will be presided over by Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, head of their national oil company.
The global day of action will be on Saturday 9 December.
Climate justice is the recognition that climate change is not just about our physical environment and the urgent need to cut emissions: it is a political, ethical, and social issue calling for more fundamental change.
Two weeks before this yearās UN climate negotiations start in Dubai, join us to hear from experts and debate the key struggles we face: at a COP28 which is dominated by fossil fuel interests, and here in the UK, where the government is backtracking on climate action and set on draining āevery last drop of oilā from the North Sea.
Against the power of fossil fuel interests and corporate elites, we have to centre the voices of those in the Global South worst hit by a crisis they did least to cause. We have to heed their warnings about the dangerous greenwash āsolutionsā and loopholes allowing rich countries to evade their financial responsibilities. Meanwhile we have crucial arguments to win here, on the political left as well as the right. It is not climate action that has imposed āunacceptable costs on hard-pressed British familiesā it is the profiteering of energy companies.
The impacts of climate breakdown are intensifying: more than ever, a rapid transition away from fossil fuels is needed. But this government's failure to address the crisis have left ordinary people facing soaring energy bills, and crucial infrastructure like public transport failing, while energy giants pocket obscene profits.
A transformation is needed. A National Climate and Biodiversity Service could deliver on decarbonisation and biodiversity targets at the pace and scale demanded by science. By providing coherence and coordination across government, including devolved, regional and local government, an NCS will organise, plan, train and deliver the huge number of jobs required for a rapid and far reaching transition that puts economic and social justice for workers and communities at its heart.
Campaign against Climate Change Trade Union Group, PCS Union, Greener Jobs Alliance
