workplace action needed to tackle the carbon emissions crisis

Senior Government ministers, leading trade unionists, employers and environmental specialists will meet at a major conference today (Monday 7 March) to demand that Britainís workplaces get serious about reducing waste and conserving energy, and to ensure that the UK reaches its 2010 target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The conference entitled GreenWorks is organised by the TUC with the Trade Union Sustainable Development Advisory Committee (TUSDAC), and the Carbon Trust. It takes place at TUC Congress House, London. The event also coincides with the Governmentís announcement of its sustainable development strategy.

The conference will receive TUSDACís consultation report Greening the workplace outlining the trade union response to the carbon emissions crisis. The report argues that the UK will fail to reach its greenhouse gas emissions target unless it puts major investment into retraining workers; faces the need to rundown old industries and encourage new ones; and becomes a world leader in renewable energy supplies such as wave and tidal.

Key points from Greening the workplace
- New jobs are emerging in the following areas: renewable energy, improving energy use in housing stock, light rail, recycling, improving water and sewage systems, and organic farming.

- It is estimated that today around 700,000 people work in the environmental technologies industries.

- Workplace changes could mean that whole plants and sectors of industry, like coal and large manufacturing face major transformations. This will have serious consequences for communities as well as individuals.

- Major workplace changes should be through just transition. Alternative jobs must be found for those displaced, and retraining and investment is essential to ease the transition.

- There are currently 8,000 people working in the renewable energy sector. It is estimated that with the right levels of investment this could increase to 30,000 in just five years. Britain is leading the world in wave and tidal power research. The first pre-production prototype wave energy converter is being tested in the Orkneys. The Governmentís target of 10 per cent electricity generation by renewables in 2010 is behind target. Yet existing nuclear and coal plants and UK deep mines are closing. This could lead to an energy gap.

Paul Noon conference chair and Prospect General Secretary, said: Trade unions have made great strides in tackling the challenge of climate change in the workplace, often in partnership with employers. But more needs to be done and TUSDACís sustainable development policies will be key to helping unions and industry ensure economic growth does not lead to further environmental damage.

Lord Whitty Minister Sustainable Energy and co-chair of TUSDAC said: Trade unions and their members can help to achieve the shift we need towards more environment-friendly workplaces that meet the highest standards of energy efficiency, an important weapon in the fight against climate change.

Dr Garry Felgate of the Carbon Trust, Director of Business Delivery and External Relations at the Carbon Trust, said: Immediate action is essential if organisations and companies really want to do something about climate change. Unions have an important role to play in supporting how people can make a difference - empowering people at work to tackle the issue of climate change is something unions should keep at the top of their agenda.

Karl Carter Manufacturing Director British Sugar: With climate change high on the Governmentís agenda this year, there are real opportunities for British industry in taking on the green challenge. However the clock is ticking, particularly for transport, which is lagging well behind other sectors in reducing emissions. Industry needs to seize the initiative and encourage government to work with business and employees to deliver innovative and practical change in the UK.