Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) Newsletter No. 56 – January 2024

Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) Newsletter No. 56 – January 2024:

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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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 and 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 56 – Getting ourselves on the right side of history

Paul focuses this issue’s editorial on the environmental failures of the west, Europe, the UK and the US and the need for ‘COPs’ because they are the annual focus for environmental monitoring on how bad the world crisis is getting. Paul highlights the fact that 2023 was the hottest year on record and tells us how severe the consequences of the climate crisis is and it will be worse next year. Paul quotes Prof. Andrew Dessler of Texas A&M University who said “Every year for the rest of your life will be one of the hottest on record…2023 will end up being one of the coldest years this century. Enjoy it while it lasts.” Paul concludes that by the time of the next COP in November the environmental impacts will be even more severe and with every possibility of the Second Coming of Donald Trump in the US – it will lead to the USA going full on as a rogue state by withdrawing from the Paris Agreement again; a definitive abandonment of any pretence to “American global leadership” with the UK liable to follow suit.

Read the full editorial & Newsletter Edition 55 attached.

Contents GJA Newsletter 56:

• Editorial: The right side of history
• Pass this Motion for climate action!
• GJA AGM 13th Feb 24
• ITUC on the COP
• Energy investment flows
• Gaza at COP
• Hopeful Chinese Whispers
• Climate Collateral: militarism in the climate crisis
• GKN workers in Firenze, Italy – For a worker led Just Transition!
• For a Just Transition in Steel
• City of London Report on green skills for commercial building retrofit
• It’s Orkney’s Wind!
• RMT response to Scottish Just Transition Report
• We Make Tomorrow Conference 28th Jan
• Unions, Climate Justice and a Just Transition 8th Feb
• Green Bites

Green Bites:

• 70% – Increase in in UK Solar Panel Installation in 2021 over 2020 and the first 6 months of 2022 saw installation rates doubling.
• 2024 – Will see China’s carbon emissions begin to fall, following record renewable energy investment.
• 40% – Drop in Electric Vehicle Battery Prices by 2025 – forecast by ‘Goldman Sachs’.
• 33% – Drop in UK flights would be needed by 2030 to hit ‘Net Zero’ targets.
• 0 (zero) – Measures to increase energy efficiency announced in the UK Chancellor’s autumn statement.

What is a just transition?

A just transition seeks to ensure that the substantial benefits of a green economy transition are shared widely, while also supporting those who stand to lose economically – be they countries, regions, industries, communities, workers or consumers.

A rapid increase in the speed and scale of actions required to reduce the risks of climate change will create new economic opportunities.

Whilst a just transition is mainly based on environmental considerations, it is also shaped by other structural changes affecting labour markets, such as globalisation, labour-saving technologies and the shift to services.

A just transition is an integral part of many of the global commitments adopted by countries. The Paris Agreement acknowledges “the imperatives of a just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs in accordance with nationally defined development priorities” and highlights the importance of workers in responding to climate change.

Furthermore, the just transition concept links to 14 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, explicitly drawing together SDGs No 12 – climate action, No 10 – reduced inequalities, No 8 – decent work and economic growth, and No 7 – affordable and clean energy.

Many countries have recognised the challenge that this transformation entails and are taking measures to protect those that are most vulnerable and affected by the changes, including across the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) regions.

• The European Union’s Just Transition Mechanism is integral to the EU’s Green Deal, targeted at ensuring “a fair transition to a climate-neutral economy, leaving no one behind” and aims to mobilise at least €150 billion over the period 2021-2027;
• The Solidarity and Just Transition Silesia Declaration signed by 50 countries at COP24, which states that: “a just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs are crucial to ensure an effective and inclusive transition”;
• Climate Action for Jobs Initiative, co-led by the International Labour Organisation, Spain and Peru, with 46 countries committing to develop “national plans for a just transition and create decent green jobs”.
• The UNFCCC Gender Action plan, whereby parties to the UNFCCC have recognized the importance of involving women and men equally in the development and implementation of national climate policies that are gender-responsive.

Quote of the Month 

“For the first time, the move away from fossil fuels is explicitly stated in a COP outcome—a first nail in the coffin for the fossil fuel industry. Oil and gas producers squeezed in unhelpful language, pretending gas can be a transition fuel, or that carbon capture can clean up after them. These small battle wins for the industry are bitter and hollow, and ultimately won’t win the war. Loopholes and false solutions can only serve to delay their inevitable demise, yet it’s clear from the text—which is strongly committed to the 1.5°C warming limit – that there’s no time to lose.”

Bill Hare; Climate Analytics

Much more in the GJA Newsletter No 56 January 2024 attached.

 Attachment: 

• GJA Newsletter No.56 for January 2024

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

24LTB021 Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) Newsletter No. 56 – January 2024

GJA-Newsletter-56-January-2024

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