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This event is formed on the platform that the G20 defends a system that boosts social inequality. During the summit, the links between global problems will be highlighted and alternatives that can provide a solution will be discussed. During 12 panel discussions and more than 70 workshops, scientists, activists and polititians from all over the world will share their criticism of the ruling policies and their alternatives, and discuss strategies to realise a solidarity-oriented world.
We would like to highlight this workshop:
Title: The working class and climate justice. Do they belong together?
Times: July 6, 3 - 5 PM
Location: Zinnschmelze 1, Maurienstraße 19, 22305 Hamburg.
Speakers: Tadzio Muller from Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung; John Sinha from One Millions Climate Jobs Campaign; Laura Pailliard from PCS union; Asad Rehman, director of War On Want
Synopsis:
Donald Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord occurs in the context of heightened global awareness of the global climate crisis caused by extreme weather events, and major ecological events such as the melting of Arctic Sea ice and the bleaching of coral in the Great Barrier Reef. At the same time we see a resurgent climate justice movement growing across the globe following the years of demoralisation caused by the collapsed Copenhagen climate talks. In Germany, we have seen the largest mobilisations and mass direction action campaigns against brown coal, which are reaching levels not seen since anti-nuclear movement of the 80's. In the UK there is mass movement developing against fracking with hundreds of local groups across the country. At the same time, we are seeing the rise of right populist movements, which are explicitly anti-environment and deny climate science. These political formations have gained a following amongst a sizeable part of the working class. In addition, we have also seen, as with the case of the VW emissions scandal, that the co-option of trade unions into the management structure of industry makes the working class appear as part of the problem and not part of the solution to many climate activists. A false dichotomy is presented in which jobs and environmental protection are mutually exclusive.
The debate will revolve around these questions: 1. Does this division matter? 2. Is it real? And if so, how do we overcome these divisions in the movement and build a movement that put social justice at the heart of its message?
Read more about the summit here.