This branch notes
- that as global temperatures rise, extreme weather events are multiplying, including heatwaves, drought and flooding, with the worst impacts on those who have done least to cause the crisis
- that a rapid transition away from fossil fuels is needed to prevent catastrophic climate breakdown, but action so far has been inadequate
- that there is an increasing right-wing backlash against climate action, both in the UK and globally
This branch also notes
- that in the UK there is currently a year of trade union climate action, supported by a motion passed by TUC in 2024 and motions passed by national conferences / executive committees of BFAWU, NEU, PCS, UCU, Unison and Unite
This branch believes:
- that the climate crisis is a working class issue, affecting our jobs, homes and communities
- that solutions need to be shaped by the working class, bringing benefits including cheap renewable energy, warm homes, affordable public transport and communities with green spaces and clean air
- that a comprehensive programme of climate jobs is needed, as proposed in "Climate Jobs: Building a Workforce for the Climate Emergency"
The branch therefore resolves:
- to support the year of trade union climate action, engaging with other trade unions locally as well as with community and climate justice groups
- to bring a motion to our trades council(s) to support branches in organising relevant outreach events, including in branches and workplaces, and joint local activities with other unions and with wider civil society groups organising around climate and related issues such as healthcare, housing, fuel poverty and anti-racism.
- to ask our national union what initiatives they are organising or supporting during the year of action, urging them to allocate one or more members of staff to work on the Year of Action as part of their job description and for them to liaise with other unions and campaigns to make their work as effective as possible
- to affiliate to the Campaign against Climate Change
- to notify the Campaign against Climate Change Trade Union Group of this motion by emailing climatetradeunion@gmail.com
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Notes:
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Information about the year of action: cacctu.org.uk/yoa
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Campaign against Climate Change affiliation fees: £50 for most branches and trades councils, £25 for branches with unwaged members, e.g. retired/Unite Community; national unions from £150, depending on size
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The Campaign against Climate Change Trade Union Group is part of the Campaign against Climate Change, working for the urgent action needed to avoid catastrophic climate change:
- Developing understanding within the trade union movement of why climate justice is a trade union issue: the unequal impacts of climate breakdown and fossil fuel pollution, both globally and locally.
- Identifying and sharing effective solutions: Just Transition, climate jobs, and a National Climate Service, with a focus on linking social justice and climate justice.
- Identifying ‘false solutions’ to the climate crisis which have negative environmental and/or social outcomes and informing debates about these within the trade union movement.
- Bringing trade union voices into the environmental and climate movement.
- Working with other campaign and civil society groups to build effective demonstrations with a visible trade union presence calling for climate action.
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