- Conference
- 2024 Water, Environment & Transport Conference
- Date
- 13 February 2024
- Decision
- Carried
Conference, as a Service Group that is widely affected by the worsening climate crisis the planet is engulfed in, our sector is uniquely skilled to set the right examples to reduce carbon emissions, add value to Green UNISON’s campaign and potentially influence government policy.
Historically climate change has always been talked about as a problem for future generations, however, we are seeing the effects of this here and now. According to the Meteorological Office (Met Office) the most recent decade (2009-2018) has been on average 1% wetter than 1981-2010 and 5% wetter than 1961-1990 for the UK overall – and the amount of rain from extremely wet days has increased by 17% when looking at the same periods. The Met Office also predicts that intense rainfall associated with severe flash flooding could become almost five times more likely by the end of this century.
Our members across all of Water, Environment and Transport will feel the impact of these predictions and increased rainfall. Within our sector we all have a vital role to play in campaigning for greener policies and working with our employers to ensure workplaces are more sustainable for the future and informing our members of global warming issues which will impact on their families.
Our sector had a great presentation at the WET Seminar in Nottingham 2023 which focussed on de-carbonisation and how companies within the sector can work collaboratively to help save our precious planet. Conference, this should be the beginning of our conversation and not a one off!
UNISON’s Green Week, held annually, in September was well received as the union sets the bar for green thinking and is a crucial opportunity for our members to raise awareness in our sector and to tap into the many Green UNISON’S resources available. There is no better time than now!
Conference calls on the Water, Environment & Transport Service Group Executive to:
1)Keep pushing WET branches to fill UNISON’s Environmental Officer posts by explaining the crucial role they bring to the branch and national debate.
2. Consider setting up WET Sectors Green Network Forum to link in with Green UNISON’s policies, to address climate challenges in the sector and share good practices from branches.
3. Continue to work with WET Branches to develop the great work done in UNISON’s 2023 Green Week, for 2024 and beyond by promoting the unmissable opportunities of Green UNISON’s events, newsletter, training, and resources to engage fully with this debate.