We want to build the widest possible coalition of forces to campaign for action on climate change. Involving trade unions is an important part of this. Many climate campaigners wouldn’t think of trade unions as natural partners for their campaigns, having seen ‘jobs’ and the ‘environment’ presented as mutually exclusive concerns. But increasingly these different parts of civil society are making common cause, challenging these myths and fighting together for a liveable planet and social justice. In 2019, trade unionists joined the student-led climate strike movement on two global days of action which brought out an estimated seven million around the world. Trade unions also mobilised widely in the UK for COP26 held in Glasgow in 2021.

Now we’re mobilising for a Year of Action for Climate, including a fortnight of protest and campaign events surrounding the COP30 UN Climate Conference in Brazil. Join our Year of Action, and build the Plymouth Climate Summit on 15th November 2025.

Climate activists may be unsure about dealing with the official structures of the unions (even for those who may be members of unions themselves!), so here’s a guide to help making those links a little bit easier.

Trade unions in Plymouth are supporting the Climate Hub for Justice and actions including the Summit in Plymouth on Saturday 15th November 2025. Please offer support and attend with the Branch banner – pass the model motion here:

This [ name of Branch / organisation ] Notes:

1. The deepening climate emergency caused by emissions of global heating gases including carbon dioxide and methane that threatens economic and social security of human society and is causing the 6^th Great Extinction of plant and animal life on Earth.
2. The failure of fossil fuel corporations to take timely actions to reduce global heating emissions by ending reliance upon oil, gas and coal.
3. The failure of Governments to enact systemic change away from fossil fuel use such as the complete transfer of power generation and transmission to green energy sources.
4. The terrible cost to life and communities being experienced by the poorest across the world as climate change and the resulting extreme weather events devastate economies and forces mass migration.
5. The upcoming 30^th Climate Conference hosted by the United Nations, entitled COP30 2025, to be held in Brazil, a major oil and gas corporation. 

We Believe:  

1. Catastrophic Climate Change is an existential threat to sustainable human society which requires urgent and immediate action to reduce climate heating emissions including CO2 and Methane, and the production of adaptations for the future protection of all life;
2. It is the poor and working classes across the Earth and at home who will suffer the earliest and worst impacts of climate and change without investment in, and redistribution of, resources for protection;
3. The technology already exists for timely and immediate reduction of fossil fuel emissions towards zero, based on the green technologies of solar, wind and water power generation, but the political will is not in place where politicians are heavily influenced and guided by fossil fuel corporations and their financial allies;
4. Only the coordinated collective action of ordinary people, mobilised to exert focussed political pressure upon governments and corporations can force the systemic changes necessary to avoid global food shortages, transport disruption, economic crisis and societal collapse.

We Resolve:

1. To campaign for climate justice, including lobbying government for urgent action to reduce carbon emissions, the creation of green jobs for the transition from the fossil fuel economy, and enacting negotiations with employers for changes to production and conditions of employment to ensure the health, safety and security of workers from the impacts of extreme weather and climate change. 
2. To support the Plymouth Hub for Climate Justice, including the events it has organised in response to the COP30 Conference in Brazil, to publicise the Plymouth Climate Summit, march & rally on Saturday 15th November 2025 to all members and donate £100 [adjust as required] to the costs of the event (payable to Plymouth Trades Union Council, reference Climate Summit, by BACS: Plymouth & District Trades Union Council”, Unity Trust Bank, Ac 59110491 Code 08-60-01 ).
3. [Optional for Trades Unions] Affiliation to the Campaign against Climate Change Trade Union Group at an annual cost of £25 ( https://www.cacctu.org.uk/affiliate ) and purchase of the Climate Jobs book for Branch activists (£5 each plus postage – https://www.cacctu.org.uk/climatejobs )
4. Invite a Climate speaker to a future Branch meeting/event.

END

Join our Year of Climate Action across all workplaces and colleges.

We Make Tomorrow! Trade unions and COP 26