Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) Newsletter No. 60 – May 2024

Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) Newsletter No. 60 – May 2024:

Introduction & History – The GJA:

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 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 is the author of a publication for them entitled ‘Greener workplaces for a just transition – a Wales TUC toolkit for trade unionists’ which was circulated by the CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department.

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 offers 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/

• TUC green rep courses:

The TUC announced, earlier this year, a series of new ‘free’ to attend “green rep training courses for 2024 as follows:

All union reps and officers are welcome, new or experienced, and whether in any Union role. All trade unionists can benefit from understanding what the TU movement can do to protect and empower Union members during the climate crisis. The 2024 course programme is:

• Stockport College Online 5, 12,19 Feb ‘2024
• City of Bristol College In-person 11,18, 25 Jun ‘2024
• Newcastle College In-person 11,18, 25 Jun ‘2024

Paul Atkin Editorial GJA Newsletter Issue 60 – ‘Green Straws in The Wind’

Paul points to the recent London Mayoral election and the even heavier than expected defeat of Tory Candidate Susan Hall, after she made her campaign a “referendum on ULEZ”, has wider lessons for anyone who wants to be “close to the voters” in the coming General Election. Susan Hall, faced an unexpectedly decisive defeat against incumbent Labour mayor Sadiq Khan. Hall secured only 32.7% of the vote, while Khan received 43.8%.  Paul adds that the latest figures from the ONS show 61% of people rating climate change as an important issue facing the UK. Only the cost of living, the NHS and “the economy’’ score higher. Housing, crime, immigration and international conflict are all rated lower. Across the country a majority of supporters of all Parties, even Reform (!) support action on climate.

Read the full Editorial & GJA Newsletter Edition 60 attached.

Contents GJA Newsletter 60:

• Editorial – Green Straws in the Wind
• Climate Justice coalition statement in solidarity with Gaza student movement
• IEA projects fall in oil demand
• ITUC call on International Financial Institutions
• What struggles do we need to win and how?
• Just Transition issues – 1. How do we develop a worker’s plan for a just transition? 2. The role of the construction workforce in reducing energy consumption and producing energy 3. Reflections on the experience of the Nigerian Workforce.
• RMT backing for free public transport campaign
• Justice for Zane: Climate Crisis and Contaminated Land
• Going through the Motions 1. PCS 2. NEU heat action points
• Events. 1 Labour CND meeting on nuclear power 2 GJA Climate Literacy in skills training 3 Heat Strike 4 Meeting on decarbonising council housing 5 Climate Justice for Steel workers 6 TUC Course: Introduction to the role of the Green/Environmental Rep
• Green Bites

Green Bites – Stats of The Month:

• 3/10 – UK government score for pursuit of its own “energy security” targets. They have failed in those most in line with sustainability; to retrofit 450,000 homes by 2026, cutting disproportionate levies on electricity bills, new offshore wind projects. Plans to deliver frameworks for eight new nuclear power stations have also fallen short. The Clean Heat Market Mechanism framework and the 2026 phase-out of off-grid gas homes has been pushed back. Reforms to National Grid connection and transmission, and roll-out of solar technology, are going too slowly. Their successes are a small curate’s egg; the welcome establishment of a National Grid Future Systems operator offset by issuing more licenses on oil and gas projects. Progressing final decision processes and contract selections for hydrogen projects is ambiguous, because this is essential for some industrial processes, but a dead end for domestic heating and cooking.
• 70% – Of flights are taken by 15% of the population. The New Economics Foundation proposal for a Frequent Flyer Levy aims to tax the people who can afford it and cut aviation emissions without penalising ordinary people. Stats of the Month
• 171 – Gigawatts New wind power capacity installed in 2023, a 50% increase on 2022. Over 65% of the new capacity was installed in China, with the US, Brazil, Germany and India the next biggest markets. To meet the global target to triple renewable energy by 2030 the industry must install twice as much new wind capacity in the next seven years as it has in the last 40. From GWEC.
• 40% – Projected drop in the cost of battery storage by 2030, from the IEA. “The combination of solar PV (photovoltaic) and batteries is today competitive with new coal plants in India,” and “just in the next few years, it will be cheaper than new coal in China and gas-fired power in the United States.” Fatih Birol
• 30% – Quantity of global electricity produced by renewable sources last year, up from just 12% in 2022, beginning to squeeze out fossil fuels. Emissions from this sector are now slated to decline.
• -12% – Potential impact of nature degradation on UK GDP, according to research from the Green Finance Institute, which is supported by DEFRA and the Treasury. By comparison the effect of the 2008 financial crash was – 5% and the COVID pandemic was – 11%. Campaigns against rewilding and to maintain unsustainable farming methods, like those we have seen recently in the EU, are pushing in this direction. $900 Billion How much could be raised by 2030 by properly taxing fossil fuel companies just in the OECD countries. The Climate Damages Tax Report argues that $720 billion of this could finance the Loss and Damage Fund for developing countries. “The richest, most economically powerful countries, with the greatest historical responsibility for climate change, need look no further than their fossil fuel industries to collect tens of billions a year in extra income by taxing them far more rigorously,” Stamp Out Poverty Director David Hillman

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

“The pace of climate breakdown that we’re witnessing is faster than I think the vast majority of climate scientists were anticipating five or 10 years ago. Things are changing so rapidly that myself and quite a few of my colleagues do have concerns that some of our estimates could be on the conservative side.”

Prof. Jonathan Bamber: University of Bristol

 Much more in the GJA Newsletter No 60, May 2024 attached.

Attachment: 

• GJA Newsletter No.60 for May 2024.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

24LTB168 Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA) Newsletter No. 60 – May 2024

GJA-Newsletter-60-May-2024

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