Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) Newsletter No. 42 – November 2022:
Introduction
The Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) came into existence as a result of funding from Battersea and Wandsworth TUC. The GJA was launched to promote skills training and job creation to meet the needs of Britain’s rapidly growing low carbon sectors and to green the whole economy. The transition to a low carbon and resource efficient economy can drive sustainable economic recovery and job creation in every part of the country as well as making existing jobs more secure. But this requires a more strategic national and local approach to deliver the workforce skills needed and to stimulate demand for clean energy and energy efficiency services.
The Greener Jobs Alliance liaises at a national and local level to build the broadest possible support for the policies, investment, partnerships and commitments needed to drive the transition to a low carbon economy.
The Greener Jobs Alliance liaises with training bodies, colleges, universities, employers, local and national Government, trade unions, housing associations, campaign and community groups – to build the policies, investment and partnerships needed to drive the transition to a low carbon economy.
GJA ‘Free’ Courses:
The GJA runs a number of ‘free’ courses on the environment for Trade Union Reps in different parts of the UK which have been attended by a number of CWU Reps with details published in the newsletter.
The GJA now offer three ‘on-line’ courses as follows:
- Climate Change Awareness
This short introductory course is aimed at trade unionists and anyone wishing to develop their understanding of the issues around climate change. The course is divided into 4 modules. The modules contain background information, short videos, graphs and illustrations.
- Module 1: Climate Change Explained
- Module 2: International Responses
- Module 3: Trade Union Responses
- Module 4: Getting Involved
At the end of each section, there are references and links to additional materials if you want to go further. There are no formal tests and you can work through the materials at your own pace but there are optional quizzes to check your understanding at the end of modules 1, 2 and 3.
- A Trade Union Guide to Just Transition
Social justice must be at the heart of the development of a net-zero carbon economy. The course covers:
- The meaning and history of the term just transition
- Why it should be a priority issue
- UK and international policies and case studies
- Ideas for developing an action plan
It is aimed at trade unionists and anyone wishing to improve their understanding of why just transition should be central to climate change policy.
- Air Quality – a trade union issue
The following issues will be explored in this free online course. It is made up of 3 modules,
- Module 1: The Causes and Health Impacts of Air Pollution
- Module 2: The Law and Government Policy
- Module 3: Trade Union Responses and Campaigns
Link to GJA on-line Courses:https://greenerjobsalliance.co.uk/courses/
GJA Founder Graham Petersen:
The founder GJA Secretary and Newsletter editor was Graham Petersen who is well known to the CWU and has a long standing working relationship with the Union. He is a former TUC tutor and course designer who created safety reps training courses and the successful TUC Occupational Health & Safety Diploma Course. He was the head of the Trade Union Studies Centre at South Thames College before retirement from the post and has been a visitor and guest speaker at CWU events and meetings. After 30 editions, Graham stood down at the GJA AGM last year and has handed over to Paul Atkin as newsletter editor and Tahir Latif as GJA Secretary. Graham remains a GJA Steering Group member and is now working part time for the Wales TUC having recently written a publication for them ‘Greener workplaces for a just transition – a Wales TUC toolkit for trade unionists’ which was circulated by the CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department.
Paul Atkin Editorial GJA Newsletter Issue 42 – ‘Lost and Damaged’
In this edition Paul Atkin in his editorial focuses on the UN confirming that they see ‘no credible pathway’ to keep below a 1.5C average rise in global temperature! Pauls says we are now in a period of desperate damage limitation. It’s not 1.5C or let it rip because no other limit is worth the bother. The higher above 1.5C we allow it to get, the worse it will be. We have to fight for every gram of carbon reduction we can get as quickly as we can get it. In this, the COP process is inadequate but essential. So far it has shaved about half a degree off the projected temperature rise by 2100. Not enough, but we’d be sunk without it. There will be a huge fight at the current COP27 over loss and damage. Faced with increased pressure from the Global South, the US has agreed to talk about this, but not to commit any money. The contrast of this eye dropper meanness with their gushing spigots of cash for military expenditure reveals their priorities and shows us where the resources can come from. News that the UK failed to meet its September deadline for £260 million worth of aid to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) – aimed to help developing countries adapt and mitigate climate effects – sends the same careless and irresponsible message as new Tory PM Rishi Sunak’s evident reluctance to turn up at the COP27. It is characteristic of this Tory Government that it sees fighting climate change as counterposed to repairing the domestic economy, not the way to do it. The UN’s warning makes it clear that climate breakdown is not so much ‘above politics’, as foundational to any politics – and economics – that is relevant to the period we are in; so anything that doesn’t address it is becoming a form of displacement activity. With most people stating they would be proud to vote for a Party promoting renewable energy and insulation, we have the majority. Let’s mobilise it concludes Paul (GJA Editor Paul Atkin).
Contents Newsletter 42
- Editorial: Lost and Damaged
- Climate Campaigns letter to Cost of Living Campaigns
- ITUC demands on COP27
- Nov 12th Day of Action
- TUC Bold Solutions Rally and Conference
- Getting off gas
- Social Justice and Pakistan Floods of 2022
- UNISON Green Week
- Five Strategies for Challenging the “Jobs vs. Environment” Frame
- Debate: Green Socialist New Deal from Green Left
- Climate Education initiative for former coalfield areas
- Working with local authorities for publicly accountable social housing retrofitting
- Fit for the Future – Why we need to make our education buildings greener, safer and healthier places and how to get started
- Green Bites
COP27 Global Day of Action 12 November 2022 (30 Demos Across UK and Ireland)
The Climate Justice Coalition is organising 30 demo events across Britain and Ireland to give solidarity with activists in Egypt, and make the links between the cost of living, energy and climate crisis.
- LONDON – Shell Building, Belvedere Rd 12:00 (The Trade Union Bloc meets at 11.30am Belvedere Road, alongside Jubilee Gardens, opposite the Shell Centre Building).
- EDINBURGH – St Andrew Sq. 12:00
- NEWCASTLE – Grey’s Monument 12:00
- BIRMINGHAM – Victoria Sq. 14:00
- SHEFFIELD – Barkers Pool 12:00
- BLACKPOOL – Blackpool Tower 12:00
- MANCHESTER – Coaches to Blackpool
- COVENTRY – Council House 13:30
- BRISTOL – College Green 12:00
- PLYMOUTH – Guildhall Sq. 12:00
- SOUTHAMPTON – Guildhall Sq. 12:45
- PORTSMOUTH – Guildhall Sq. 12:00
- CARDIFF – Cardiff Crown Court 11:00
- SWANSEA – Castle Square 12:00
- CARMARTHEN – Carmarthen Park 12:30
- CAERNARFON – Castle Square 13:00
- EASTBOURNE – Train to London Demo
- NOTTINGHAM – Trinity Square 11:00
- TELFORD – Dale End Ironbridge 10:45
- STRATFORD-UPON-AVON – Henley Street 13:30
- BOURNEMOUTH – Bournemouth Pier 12:00
- BATH – Kingston Parade 12:00
- LEICESTER – Clock Tower 14:00
- LOWESTOFT – Britten Centre 12:00
- NORWICH – City Hall 12:00
- OXFORD – Cornmarket 12:00
- WIMBORNE – Central Wimborne 10:00
- ALTON – Alton Public Gardens 11:00
- BELFAST – organised by CJC Belfast
- COVENTRY – Council House 13:30
- DERRY & DUBLIN – organised by CJC Ireland
- LEAMINGTON SPA – Pump Room Gardens 12:00
- MAIDSTONE – 33 Tonbridge Road12:30
- MARKET DRAYTON – High Street 12:00
- STAMFORD – Sheep market 11.30
- MARKET HARBOROUGH – Old Grammar School 13:00
- BRIGHTON – Churchill Square 12:00
- SHROPSHIRE – High St, Market Drayton 12:00
To find out more on these events visit:
TUC Events “Bold Solutions – COP27 Trade Unions, The economic, climate and energy crises and how we fix them.”
The TUC is organising two events – one in person and one online, coinciding with COP 27 and
bringing trade union and climate activists together to gather solutions – How do we combine our struggles for an equitable cost of living, workers’ rights and a just transition to climate safety? We urgently need a politics that builds a safe climate for future generations, a rapid and just transition with quality jobs, and an economy that rewards work, not wealth.
Online Event: Thursday 17 November 2022
6pm – 8:30pm (2hrs 30mins)
Speakers:
Shavanah Taj (General Secretary, Wales TUC),
Camille Barbagallo (Climate Justice Coalition),
Caitlin Lee (Unite Hospitality workers’ branch)
more TBC.
This event will be via Zoom.
Register here:- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cop27-trade-unions-and-the-climate-and-economic-crises-tickets-440371291387
In Person Conference: Thursday 1 December 2022
9.30am – 5.30pm.
TUC General Council Chamber and Room 1,
Congress House,
Great Russell Street,
London WC1B 3LS
Register here:- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bold-solutions-the-economic-climate-and-energy-crises-and-how-we-fix-them-tickets-433506669117
Note: COP27 is the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The conference is formally known as the ‘United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties’ and this is its 27th iteration. Given that the official title is a mouthful, it is shortened to COP27 which is short for the 27th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC. It’s being held from 6 November until 18 November 2022in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
Quote of the Month:
“This is the undeniable truth of our age. It is cheaper to save the planet than destroy it.”
(Ed Miliband MP)
Attachments:
- See attached copy of the GJA Newsletter No.42 for November 2022.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
22LTB440 Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) Newsletter No. 42 – November 2022
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 
Leave a Reply