Our new report 'Climate Jobs:Building a workforce for the climate emergency' was published just before COP26. It has sparked lots of discussion in meetings organised by local groups (do get in touch on climatetradeunion@gmail.com if you would like a speaker for your own meeting). To allow more in-depth discussion about the issues covered by each chapter we're holding a series of online meetings on specific topics. 

Find out more and register for the meetings below. And keep an eye on this page - more meetings will be added as we confirm dates and speakers.

Read the full report online or order copies

Our first meeting in the series, on climate jobs in energy. To slash greenhouse gas emissions, we need to stop burning fossil fuels as a matter of urgency. Decarbonising the energy system requires a shift to renewable energy, electrification and also a transformation in efficiency (using less energy resource overall). We'll discuss how this transformation can create jobs in energy generation, distribution and storage, what technologies we can rely on, and which are dangerous dead ends.

Speakers:

• Ellen Robottom, lead author of the energy chapter in 'Climate Jobs: Building a workforce for the climate emergency' (download slides)
• Sam Mason, Policy Officer, PCS Union
• Simon Pirani, an academic and activist, author of "Burning Up: A Global History of Fossil Fuel Consumption" (download slides)
• Sally Clark, UK Bioenergy Campaigner, Biofuelwatch (download slides)

Chair: Suzanne Jeffery, editor 'Climate Jobs: building a workforce for the climate emergency

Watch the videos from the meeting - part one with speakers' presentations and part two with answers to questions raised in the discussion.

Retrofitting the UK's draughty and inefficient housing stock is one of the main challenges in tackling the climate emergency, and one which the government has dismally failed at. In this meeting on climate jobs in buildings we'll discuss how a National Climate Service could address the need for a large skilled workforce in every part of the country to bring us warm homes and energy-efficient public buildings and businesses. While tackling fuel poverty as an urgent priority, we also need to avoid wasteful 'demolish and rebuild' and ensure new (affordable) housing is constructed to the highest standard.

Speakers: 

• Wolfgang Kuchler, co-author of the buildings chapter in 'Climate Jobs: Building a workforce for the climate emergency', and a practising architect experienced in delivering low carbon, low energy retrofit for homes (download slides)
• Ellen Robottom, co-author of the buildings chapter, Leeds TUC (download slides)
• Professor Linda Clarke, Centre for the Study of the Production of the Built Environment, University of Westminster (download slides)

Chair: Suzanne Jeffery, editor 'Climate Jobs: building a workforce for the climate emergency

Watch the video from the meeting

The transport sector produces over a quarter of UK carbon emissions, and remains an example of continued social, economic and environmental inequalities. With aeroplanes and cars as the highest emitters, a small minority is responsible for the majority of flights while those without cars are left isolated and abandoned due to failed bus and rail privatisations. In this meeting on climate jobs in transport we'll discuss how we can build an integrated transport system under public ownership which is cheap, safe and accessible to everybody, which dramatically reduces carbon emissions, and which provides many thousands of additional jobs.

Speakers: 

• Tahir Latif, CACC, author of transport chapter in Climate Jobs: Building a Workforce for the Climate Emergency
• Kerry Abel, Organiser, Transport Salaried Staffs' Association
• Simon Shaw, Author of Climate Jobs Technical Companion on Cycling and Walking (download slides)
• Alethea Warrington, Campaigns Manager, Possible, and co-author of The Right Track for Green Jobs: cutting aviation emissions while boosting employment and climate-friendly travel

Chair: Suzanne Jeffery, editor 'Climate Jobs: building a workforce for the climate emergency

Video coming soon

We are faced not just by a climate crisis but also a crisis of nature degradation and loss. The way we use land in the UK affects both of these. Our food system also has a global footprint, affecting the environment, carbon emissions and workers rights in the countries where much of our food is grown. This meeting will discuss how climate jobs in agriculture, food and nature can help regenerate communities and ecosystems.

Speakers: 

• Ian Rappel, Director of the College for Real Farming and Food Culture
• Claire James, Campaign against Climate Change
• Heather Hunt, Green New Deal South Yorkshire and Landworkers' Alliance 

Chair: Suzanne Jeffery, editor 'Climate Jobs: building a workforce for the climate emergency

Watch the videos from the meeting - part one with speakers' presentations and part two with answers to questions raised in the discussion.

Our current economy, based on resource extraction and disposability, is damaging our climate, and polluting communities' air and water. Join us to discuss how we can create climate jobs in the circular economy.

Speakers: 

• Dr Rembrandt Koppelaar, Head of Circular Economy at EcoWise Ltd and local recycling and reuse campaigner
• Jonathan Essex, Green House think tank, Green Party Councillor and trustee of Furniture, a local furniture reuse charity (view slides)
• Fliss Premru, Campaign against Climate Change, lead author of the chapter on climate jobs in waste and the circular economy

Chair: Tahir Latif, Campaign against Climate Change

Watch the video from the meeting