Introduction
In this module, we look at some of the ways we can get involved in national campaigns about climate change and raising it as an issue in our communities, workplaces, schools and colleges. Climate change has become the greatest threat to our planet and everyone on it. The devastating human and economic impacts of climate change are being felt already, from the flooded towns and villages across the UK in recent years to the brutal Typhoon Haiyan that smashed its way across the Philippines in 2014. We know that if we don’t act now, the effects will be even more devastating. People are increasingly aware of this and can see that things are going badly wrong. But often we are at a loss as to know what we can do and how to get involved in tackling this most pressing issue of our times.In this module, we look at some of the ways we can get involved in national campaigns about climate change and raising it as an issue in our communities, workplaces, schools and colleges.
Getting involved in Campaigning

Photo: greens_climate
Trade Union Clean Air Network (TUCAN)
A coalition of 13 major unions, the Greener Jobs Alliance (GJA), the Hazards Campaign and others set up a network to highlight the link between climate change and air pollution at work.
The TUCAN Charter emphasises that air pollution is as much an occupational health emergency as a public health one. TUCAN is backed by a free online training course (available on the GJA website) and has the support of most of the unions in the energy, transport and education sectors.
See also the TUCAN guide for union reps
and a 3 module Air Pollution course
Check out the TUCAN section of this website.
Getting involved at work
Workplaces are a great place to start! At work, we use up energy and resources, generate waste, and our work journeys and deliveries all add to our ‘carbon footprint.’ Raising complicated issues like climate change where you work can be tricky. But there are some fairly easy ways to get started, such as energy saving or recycling schemes, made all the easier if you work together with others at work, and if you have a willing employer! Some unions offer their members helpful guidance:- Unison’s Five Steps to Get Started
- PCS offers advice to green reps
- Check out your union’s website. Is there an environment page? Has your union got a policy on green reps?
- If your branch doesn’t have a green rep, consider becoming one. Many unions will offer support and provide training.
- Speak to fellow workers about saving energy by turning off unnecessary equipment and lights.
- Look at how waste is managed in the organisation. Could more be done to cut down on unnecessary waste?
- Find out what your fellow workers’ opinions and concerns are about environmental issues in the workplace.
- Speak to your green rep or learning rep about organising a climate change awareness-raising event or use an existing event to promote the One Million Climate Jobs campaign by booking a speaker or selling the pamphlets.
- Ask your union to affiliate to one of the campaigns mentioned above.

One Million Climate Jobs
In the previous module, we heard trade unionists and climate activists at the Paris Summit talk of the importance of working together and with other social movements to tackle the climate crisis. The One Million Climate Jobs campaign was set up by trade unionists working within the CACC. This campaign calls on the government to create a million climate jobs to solve both the economic and environmental crises. It is supported by a number of national unions, including UNITE, the National Union of Students (NUS), and climate activists and experts. Here is a section from their report outlining their key demands:
‘We need workers to build enough wind power, solar power, wave power and tidal power to meet all our energy needs. We need workers to insulate and retrofit all our existing homes and buildings in order to conserve energy. And we need workers to run a massive public transport system powered by renewable electricity.
We have people who need jobs, and jobs that must be done. So we want the government to hire a million people to do new climate jobs now in an integrated National Climate Service.
Our estimate is that those workers could cut our CO2 emissions by 86% in twenty years. We can also create another half a million jobs in the supply line. And we can guarantee a new job to anyone who loses their job because of these changes.’
One Million Climate Jobs 3rd report
Getting involved outside the workplace
Your place of work is part of a wider community. Your employer may even have policies that support community engagement. Check whether:- there are any current links with campaigns and community groups
- there are any local issues/campaigns that you can link to your workplace. For example air quality, transport policies, renewable energy and energy efficiency
- your pension fund has investments in fossil fuels. Web sites like ShareAction and Fossil Free can help you with this
- your union branch is affiliated to the local trades union council