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Trade Unions and the Transition to a Low Carbon Economy

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TRADE UNIONS AND THE TRANSITION

TO A LOW CARBON ECONOMY

Final Report for NW TUC

Ian Ruff

E: ian.ruff@ymail.com

T: 07775 334035

Neil Cumberlidge Associates

E: neil.cumberlidge@virginmedia.com

T: 07804 543140

October 2012

1Introduction


This briefing paper has been drafted to inform the NW TUC on the role trade unions can play to encourage transition to a low carbon and resource efficient economy in the North West. It provides a concise overview of the relevant policy and issues together with recommendations for action the NWTUC can take to encourage, influence and demand from those leading economic regeneration through the work of sub national organisations such as Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and City Regions.

2 Background


The TUC recognises that climate change is happening, that it is man-made and that its causes and impacts must be addressed. If this is to be achieved there needs to be a massive reduction in greenhouse gas emissions via an irrevocable shift to a low carbon and resource efficient economy. The scientific evidence becomes more compelling by the year and national policy and international protocols provide the political and legislative framework for action.

However, as politicians grapple with the challenges of the economic recession, it appears the necessary move towards a more sustainable green economy has slipped down the government's priorities. Whilst the aspiration may remain, if progress is to be made, a sharper and more practical focus is required at a sub national and local level to take forward the agenda in a more tangible manner. The trade unions have an important role to play in promoting the opportunities and encouraging new behaviours which will have a significant impact on the future productivity and jobs market of the North West and the lives of families in the region.

Whilst some still see action to mitigate climate change as a costly threat to our economy, this should be regarded as a short term view and at odds with the medium to long term financial and social imperative to deal with these challenging issues. Whilst a low carbon and resource efficient economy will require us to produce more using fewer natural resources, it also offers both employment and economic opportunities and a better quality of life. These are likely to include the development of low carbon energy sources, more efficient energy usage, creation of innovative products, changed behaviours and acquisition of appropriate skills.

Through a combination of geography, manufacturing capability and a strong tradition of social partnership, the North West is well placed to influence and benefit from the transition as it occurs. The priorities for a low carbon future will be to address the challenges and seize the opportunities but the transition must be done in a just and equitable way for all concerned.

In a region with high levels of unemployment and inequality, where over 300,000 (9%) are currently out of work, including over 100,000 young people aged 16-24, it is essential to take advantage of the training and employment opportunities arising from a low carbon economy. Environmental goods and services already generate £10bn of revenue annually and employ 87,000 people, almost 3 per cent of the regional workforce and there is considerable opportunity for this to rise still further with the right investment and political will.

There is now a new sub national infrastructure in the North West with Local Enterprise Partnerships and City Regions taking the place of the North West Development Agency, and through the localism agenda, closer links are demanded between local authorities and colleges and the communities and economies they serve. In many cases, low carbon developments feature in their plans, but more needs to be done to make the green economy a reality.

This paper:

Summarises the latest scientific, international and national policy drivers

Reviews current activity in the North West

Identifies the future issues/opportunities

Provides recommendations for NWTUC to take forward with sub regional partners

3 Scientific Imperative


The TUC accepts the overwhelming scientific consensus that man-made climate change is taking place and must be addressed as a matter of increasing urgency. We do not, therefore, intend to spend any time re-capping on the scientific evidence, and its implications, except to note that it grows more compelling with each new study. For example, in July 2012, research was published by the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature project (run by a prominent climate change sceptic) which showed that the earth has warmed by 1.5°C over the past 250 years and that 'humans are almost entirely the cause'.

4 International Protocols and National Policy Context


International drivers

The Kyoto Protocol, which is the only legally binding international instrument committing countries to reduce carbon emissions, expires in 2012 and no successor agreement is in place. The 2009 UN Climate Change Convention in Copenhagen produced an accord to aim to limit the future increase in global temperature to below 2°C, and the follow-up conferences in the past two years have recognised the need for urgent action to achieve this target, but no legally binding agreements have yet been reached. Similarly, the UN Sustainable Development Summit in 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was disappointing in terms of specific actions, being hamstrung by the global financial situation and national and corporate vested interests. The 'Rio +20' agreement was only able to agree to nations drawing up sustainable development goals by 2015.

Nevertheless, some commentators have suggested that better progress is likely through 'identifying shared goals that then inspire decentralised actions'. This can be seen in the commitment by certain global companies such as Microsoft to become carbon neutral by 2013, and in the growing capacity of grass roots organisations, including trade unions, to shape effective environmental action without the blessing of governments. In this waiting period before effective action at international level, it is vital that stakeholders - unions, employers, government, communities - work together at national and local level to tackle climate change. There is already a strong foundation for alliances between these groups to be developed, focused on specific targets/actions and for the profile of such activity to be raised substantially.

The EU has taken a leading role in seeking agreement at global level to tackle climate change and has set challenging targets to encourage Member States to take strong action at home and abroad. In 2007, EU leaders adopted an integrated approach to climate and energy policy and committed to transforming Europe into a highly resource efficient, low carbon economy. A unilateral, legally binding agreement was reached to reduce carbon emissions by at least 20% below 1990 levels by 2020. The EU has also offered to reduce emissions by 30% by 2020 provided that other major emitting countries commit to doing their fair share under a new legally binding global agreement. Meanwhile, the recently adopted EU2020 Strategy for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth places climate change priorities at the heart of the future direction of the European economy.

In June 2012, the EU adopted an Energy Efficiency Directive aimed at cutting energy use by 20% by 2020. Proposals for action at national level include binding energy audits by large employers, and providing resources to 'support social dialogue aiming at improving energy efficiency and good working conditions

National policy context

Successive UK Governments have made progress in addressing the issues of climate change and the establishment, in 2008, of the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) which brought together energy and climate change policy from different departments, was a major statement of intent. The economic situation has, however, made some politicians less receptive to the green agenda, often promoting a spurious 'environment versus growth' argument. The Coalition Government is, however, still developing major flagship policies such as transforming the energy market to deliver both clean and secure energy and the 'Green Deal' to transform the home energy efficiency of 14 million homes. Unfortunately, while the ambition remains high, the implementation has been poor, particularly in the face of wider austerity measures. The Prime Minister's pledge in 2010 to make this 'the greenest government ever' has recently been coming under increasing challenge. Over the last year, for example, the continuing emphasis on deregulation and relaxation of planning legislation, where not accompanied by sustainability criteria, risks reducing this impact still further.

Nevertheless, the Climate Change Act 2008 places a statutory duty on Ministers to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions in 2050 are at least 80% lower than in 1990, and provides a range of powers to achieve this. It established an independent Committee on Climate Change to advise the Government on targets and related policies, and introduced a system of carbon budgets which provide legally binding limits on the amount of emissions that may be produced in successive five-year periods. The first three carbon budgets were adopted in 2009 and require emissions in 2020 to be reduced by at least 34% below 1990 levels.

This autumn, Parliament is due to consider the Government's Energy Bill, comprising a range of energy market reforms and a carbon price designed to deliver some £110bn of low carbon energy investment.

Reducing carbon emissions

The overall policy framework is provided by the Carbon Plan adopted by the Coalition Government in 2011, which sets out how the UK will go about meeting its statutory commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050. The Carbon Plan makes clear that, although there has been reasonable, if patchy progress made since 1990, there will need to be major changes in how we use and generate energy. Energy efficiency will have to increase dramatically across all sectors. Oil and gas will need to be replaced by electricity, biomass and hydrogen. Electricity will have to be decarbonised by developing renewables, nuclear power and carbon capture and storage. A larger and smarter electricity grid will be needed to balance supply and demand.

Adaptation

The Carbon Plan is about measures to mitigate the causes of greenhouse gas emissions and the resulting climate change. However, some climate change is already unavoidable due to historic emissions, and action therefore needs to be taken to prepare for, and adapt to the impacts. In summary, summers will be hotter and drier, winters will be warmer and wetter and there will be more extreme weather events.

In 2012, the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment was published, which sets out what climate change is likely to mean for the UK: the main impacts will be increased flooding, summer overheating and reduced water availability. This will inform the development of a National Adaptation Programme to be issued in 2013, which will focus on identifying the action to be taken to address and build resilience to the impacts of a warmer climate, with businesses and services as one of the key themes. In the meantime, the Environment Agency has been charged with providing a Climate Ready Support Service to work with sectors and organisations to begin identifying and addressing potential climate change impacts.

The TUC's report, Changing Work in a Changing Climate (2010) found that few employers have looked at the impact of climate change on their employees, nor engaged with them to develop adaptation measures covering service delivery, training/advice, emergency responses, equipment and working temperatures. As explained in the following Regional Context section, studies have shown that adapting to the potential impacts of climate change presents particular challenges in the North West but levels of preparedness by SMEs, in particular, are worryingly low.

Plan for Growth

The Coalition Government's Plan for Growth identified the decarbonisation of energy as providing major opportunities for UK business. The 2012 Budget set out ambitions for increased investment in low carbon and resource efficient technologies, to take advantage of the massive growth predicted in world markets for these products and services. Enabling the Transition to a Green Economy: Government and Business Working Together was issued in 2012 and makes clear that the green economy is not a sub-set of the wider economy but that the whole economy needs to become green. This means: (i) securing growth and wealth creation while reducing carbon emissions and using natural resources more efficiently; (ii) seizing opportunities in the rapidly growing low carbon and environment goods and services sector; and (iii) reducing reliance on fossil fuels and building resilience to the impacts of climate change.

Skills

Skills for a Green Economywas published by BIS in 2012 and aims to identify the skills needed to support the transition to a green economy and assess employer demand and how the skills system can meet those needs. It addresses not just the skills needed for the low carbon and environmental goods and services sector but how businesses across the board can address the climate change imperative and use natural resources more sustainably. The evidence suggests that, in general, businesses are currently not certain about future green skills needs, although some sectors - energy generation, construction and food/agriculture - have articulated specific requirements including the development of STEM skills.

Of particular interest is the importance placed on the role of Unionlearn and the commitment made to:

Help union members understand the of sustainability and resource efficiency

Raise awareness of the green economy with employers and across the workforce

Build on the work of the TUC and the Trade Union Sustainable Development Advisory Committee to develop support for environmental literacy and employment in green jobs and to engage affiliates, learners, employers and other partners with the climate change agenda

Mainstream green skills through its activities

A report was recently prepared for Unionlearn in response to a request from BIS to promote awareness of the learning, skills and employment opportunities associated with the 'green economy' Stewarding the Green Skills Agenda (June 2012). This was another welcome move by Government recognising the key role unions can play. Key findings include the proposition that through the skills agenda, trade unions can steward a 'just transition' to a low carbon economy. It defines success for the union leadership role as bringing a cross-sector workforce on board with the green skills agenda and focusing on developing a green skills strategy that supports or initiates this move to a low-carbon economy. The report also contains examples of excellent work being done with Unionlearn elsewhere in the country, which we have reflected in our recommendations for the North West.

Internal Government Challenge

The above policy framework for supporting the transition to a low carbon and resource efficient economy has been developed against a background of clear differences of opinion between the Coalition Government partners on key elements of the overall strategy. While there is broad agreement on the overall strategic direction, it is clear that some of the detail exposes fault lines between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. This ranges from the different positions on the role to be played by nuclear power to strong opposition to subsidies for wind farms from some elements of the Conservative Party.

Within the Government, there is a clear lack of enthusiasm from the current Chancellor of the Exchequer for the climate change agenda. He has portrayed it as costing the UK jobs, an unwelcome distraction from the main task of promoting economic recovery, and there is on-going Treasury pressure on DECC to reduce support for renewable technologies. Policy shifts and large reductions in subsidies have led to criticism from business and industry leaders, most notably from the CBI, that the lack of a clear, stable and long term policy framework will deter new investment in the low carbon sector.

That said, while the short term prognosis may be unclear, the direction of travel in the longer term is irrefutable - the Government will need to lead and manage the transition to a low carbon and resource efficient economy if the UK is to remain competitive in national and international markets as well as meet its statutory obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050.

TUC National Position

In response to these challenges, the TUC and its affiliates nationally support a 'balanced' energy policy, involving a mix of low carbon energy supplies - renewables, new nuclear and energy from clean coal and gas-fired plant with carbon capture and storage. The TUC believes that the Government's Energy Bill should be focussed on largely decarbonising our energy system by 2030. But securing the massive investment involved requires the support of new financial institutions such as a well capitalised Green Investment Bank. The TUC has pressed the case that 'green is good for growth' through the Government's Green Economy Council, on which the TUC is represented alongside businesses and other organisations.

The TUC and affiliates in the energy intensive industries have worked with employers' groups to help ensure a place for industries such as steel, cement, glass, ceramics, chemicals, automotive, aerospace and shipbuilding, in a low carbon economy. The report, Building our Low Carbon Industries (2012), argues that these industries provide the vital inputs to our low carbon future - such as steel for wind turbines, or glass for double glazing.

Meanwhile, at the level of the workplace, the TUC and its affiliates have developed a national network of Green Workplace projects, set up under the Unions in the Community programme to promote joint union-management initiatives to secure greater energy and resource efficiency. These projects are often initiated by union environmental or green representatives and involve education and awareness raising activities at work, energy audits and jointly agreed action programmes.

5 Regional Context - Current Activity in the North West


Key regional institutions, such as the North West Regional Development Agency, have now disappeared but the work undertaken on Future North West: Our Shared Priorities (2010) was underpinned by a strong evidence base, highlighting the main challenges and opportunities arising for the region from the climate change, low carbon and resource efficiency agenda. North West TUC contributed significantly to this work and supported the approach to integrate economic, environmental and social priorities under a partnership representing the private, public and third sectors. It is worth highlighting some key facts and figures from the document:

The North West has half of the UK's civil nuclear workforce and all stages of the nuclear cycle from fuel manufacturing through to decommissioning. This is underpinned by a strong scientific and skills base. Sellafield and Heysham remain identified as potential sites for new nuclear power stations and there will be also be potential wider supply opportunities for North West-based companies such as Westinghouse and BNFL.

Although only 5% of electricity is currently generated from renewables, there is considerable potential in the North West for large renewable schemes including marine/tidal, on and off-shore wind, biomass and energy from waste.

One-tenth of the UK's £106bn low carbon and environmental goods and services sector is based in the North West, involving 5000 companies and 87,000 employees. Significant growth potential has been identified in low carbon transport, carbon capture and storage, renewables and developing new low carbon products such as solid state lighting.

The region is a high energy user, consuming around 36,000 GWh of electricity each year, two-thirds of which is accounted for by industrial and commercial users, including a number of energy intensive industries such as chemicals, glass and manufacturing. Overall, however, its wide range of fossil fuel and nuclear power generation stations means the North West is a net exporter of electricity.

The energy efficiency agenda presents particular challenges and opportunities for the North West in terms of retrofitting the existing housing stock. There are some 3 million dwellings, which could benefit from this, many in deprived areas. There are significant opportunities for the TUC to get involved because of the clear link to skills and jobs.

Until its demise, the NWDA led a substantial body of work aimed at raising awareness of climate change and resource efficiency and promoting action by businesses, local authorities and others to address the challenges and pursue the opportunities. This work is summarised on the Environmental Economy Northwest website and many of the initiatives are still running. In particular, climate change adaptation work continues at the regional level, funded by Defra, through the Climate Change NW programme and a re-focussed Climate Change Partnership.

In reviewing these initiatives, there is, however, little evidence that the role and potential contribution of the trade unions in implementing change has been fully utilised. There is clearly an opportunity for the union voice to be heard at a strategic level as action plans are drawn up.

This range of current work, together with that of the now extinct sub-regional partnerships, has provided a strong platform for the LEPs and City Regions to develop programmes focused on the specific opportunities and challenges in their areas. Summaries of the key activities in each LEP area are provided below.

Liverpool City Region (LCR)

Low Carbon Economy is one of the 4 transformational priorities for the LCR LEP and, in 2011, a Low Carbon Economy Action Plan was adopted. An estimated 8,700 people in some 400 companies are already employed in the low carbon and environmental goods and services sector in LCR and the LEP sees potential to create a further 12,000 jobs over the next 5 years. The four key areas identified are:

Energy - offshore wind, onshore wind, micro-regeneration, biomass, energy from waste and tidal power. Offshore wind in particular is seen as having great potential with some £18bn to be invested in a massive expansion in capacity in the Irish Sea (up to 1000 turbines). The LEP plans to take advantage of the emerging market by providing turbine assembly facilities. Biomass and energy from waste is also seen as having good potential with new facilities in development at Ineos Chlor and Alexandra Dock.

Networks - including the selection by Ofgem of Toxteth as one of the national pilot areas for trialling the smart grid, as well as the development of district heating systems using combined heat and power.

Transport - development of low carbon vehicles and associated infrastructure.

Buildings - in particular some 150,000 dwellings in the social rented sector which need retrofitting with more energy efficient solutions.

There is a strong link to another of the LEP priorities; Knowledge Economy, in making sure that the information, advice and training needs are met to ensure the workforce has the necessary skills to take advantage of the significant new opportunities in the low carbon sector in the coming years.

In 2012, the LEP adopted aSustainable Energy Action Plan to supplement the Low Carbon Economy Action Plan. It provides a coordinated LCR-scale programme of activity aimed at ensuring economic growth while reducing carbon emissions. It also sets the baseline against which targets can be set and progress measured in reducing carbon emissions.

Trade Union opportunities in Liverpool City Region

There is considerable activity in LCR but we believe the following initiatives will be of specific interest to the TUC:

VIRIDIS, which brings together the 6 Local Authorities, 16 Registered Social Landlords, the LEP and others to collaborate on the energy efficiency agenda in the light of emerging new national policies such as the Green Deal, Energy Company Obligation and CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. One of the priorities is to improve local supply chains for domestic energy efficiency work and the LEP is looking to provide specialist business support to around 50 businesses wishing to diversify into this sector.

In parallel, the LEP is seeking to engage with major companies in the chemical, glass and manufacturing sectors about how they can support local companies through their procurement contracts and by developing workforce skills in association with University Training Colleges, colleges and other providers.

Offshore wind is set to undergo massive expansion as large new wind farms come on stream in the Irish Sea in coming years. The LEP is seeking to equip local companies to compete effectively for what will be very large contracts and is engaging with wind farm operators on how they might make it easier for smaller suppliers by splitting large contracts. Alongside this, the LEP is seeking to ensure that workforces have the skills and knowledge to enable these major opportunities to be exploited.

The LEP would welcome active engagement with the TUC on these and other initiatives.

Greater Manchester

The Greater Manchester Strategy has Low Carbon Economy as one of its 9 priorities. This is supported by the GM Climate Change Strategy which aims to build a low carbon economy by 2020, reducing carbon emissions by 48%, and reacting to the changing climate while creating future jobs and new industries in the 'green' sector. It's supporting delivery plan, Manchester. A Certain Future sets out 150 actions to help deliver these aspirations. There is also a Greater Manchester Energy Plan ('Connected'), which seeks to promote changes in energy use, develop opportunities for low carbon energy generation/distribution infrastructure, develop skills, knowledge and expertise and develop new heating and cooling networks including district heating systems.

Greater Manchester was designated as the UK's first Low Carbon Area for the Built Environment, which aims to create 35,000 new jobs in the sector, increasing GVA by £1.4bn, while reducing carbon emissions. It focuses on retrofitting residential and commercial buildings with energy efficient and low carbon solutions, developing supporting infrastructure, skills and employment, creating business opportunities and developing innovative solutions though a 'low carbon laboratory'. Greater Manchester has just been selected as a national Green Deal exemplar for its work in supporting local businesses to develop and train staff in green skills in retrofitting and applying new technologies. This work is now being taken forward as part of the Low Carbon Hub, agreed with DECC as part of the Government's City Deal with GM.

Trade Union opportunities in Greater Manchester

As with Liverpool City Region, these is considerable activity in Greater Manchester including some highly innovative approaches, but examples of initiatives which may be of particular interest to the TUC are:

Greater Manchester is in the process of forming a joint venture company with the Green Investment Bank (UKGI) to develop a low carbon infrastructure project pipeline and create a development unit to assist project development and investment potential. Priorities are public sector retrofit and district heat networks but the emerging £320m pipeline also includes other technology opportunities.

Greater Manchester is part of the DECC Low Carbon Pioneer Cities programme and has received £3m for Green Deal Go Early projects to be delivered by March 2013. GM is in the final stages of agreeing delivery proposals for the Green Deal prior to commencing a procurement exercise.GM is also in discussion with the Government on funding for district heat network development and a whole building heat programme.

There is a current GM Chamber of Commerce led bid to the Skills Funding Agency to pilot coordinating and commissioning 'employer owned' skills training provision on the part of SMEs, which will include a specific focus on low carbon workforce needs.

AGMA, which leads on the first two initiatives above and other low carbon hub work, and the GM Chamber would welcome a discussion with the TUC on these and other initiatives.

Cheshire and Warrington

The initial six strategic objectives set by the Cheshire and Warrington LEP do not include the Low Carbon Economy. However, the potential opportunities and challenges presented by the low carbon agenda and energy security are amongst the issues currently being explored to inform the next business planning cycle. Some innovative work is, however, being carried out in Cheshire, including an anaerobic digestion plant at Reaseheath College.

Lancashire

The six strategic priorities established by the Lancashire LEP do not include Low Carbon Economy, which is a little surprising given the nuclear facilities in Preston and Heysham as well as the presence of Westinghouse, global nuclear reactor suppliers, in the area. However, while there is no explicit mention of this subject, and no plans to address it specifically, some of the other priorities such as skills improvement, supply chain/sector development and inward investment/strategic development opportunities may well address elements of it.

Other current North West Initiatives

Adaptation

A summary of climate change risks for the NW was published alongside the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment in 2012. It highlights the key impact for business as being:

Increased damage from flooding is the most significant threat to the economy unless continuing action is taken.

Over half of the NW economy is located in the Mersey Belt, which will become increasingly prone to more flooding (higher temperatures and extreme weather events.

There are significant threats but also potential opportunities for business sectors but two-thirds of the region's 230,000 smaller businesses are not currently taking any action to address climate change impacts although 95% of larger businesses are.

Climate Change NW has been established by the Environment Agency, funded by Defra, to provide information and increase awareness about climate change impacts and preparatory action across the NW.

A recent report from the Renewable Energy Association (REA) highlights the renewables sector in the NW as currently supporting over 9,000 jobs in 611 companies with £1.2bn turnover. The REA sees four-fold growth in jobs over the next decade.

North West Green Skills Provision

An Ecotec report in 2009 on Low Carbon Skills Provision in the North West provides a useful and detailed overview of the what training providers are offering or need to offer in order to effect a smooth transition and adaptation to a low carbon economy. It estimates that by 2020 the total number of workers in the North West requiring some form of skills enhancement to make the transition to a low carbon economy is approximately 750,000 or 25% of the existing workforce. The focus will be on 'greening' existing skills and expanding the number with these skills with only 5% being in new energy efficient technologies.

There is, however, still a mismatch of supply and demand reflecting a lack of awareness on all sides of what is required in both the public and private sector. The report identifies the need for strategic coordination of the development of low carbon and resource efficiency skills provision in the region to stimulate both demand and supply. This is identified as a possible role for Climate Change North West.

6 Recommendations for NW TUC


As can be seen from the preceding chapters there is significant activity proposed and underway in the North West, despite the political and economic difficulties facing the region. The challenge for the NW TUC will be to identify those initiatives which are likely to provide the most significant impact on its members and the businesses in which they are involved. It will also need to avoid getting sucked into the 'growth versus environment' debate which suggests, incorrectly, a detrimental impact on jobs in the North West of moving to a low carbon and resource efficient economy. This does not necessarily have to be the case if it is done in a just and equitable way which allows for retraining and new job creation.

A 2012 study for NW TUC examined its role with respect to local economic development in the region. It made a number of proposals aimed at furthering its strategic objectives with the new sub national bodies which have emerged since the demise of the RDA e.g. LEPs and City Regions. One of those objectives is 'A just transition to a low carbon economy and an explicit commitment to the growth of green jobs' which is the focus of this report, but it is only by recognising the impact of the transition to low carbon across the whole economy and with the buy in of the public, private and third sectors that the necessary progress will be made.

Building on the earlier report's proposals for working locally, we make the following recommendations which we believe will enable NW TUC to make an effective and valuable contribution to this important agenda.

Awareness raising and development of the Trade Union 'offer'

As part of a renewed 'shared offer' NW TUC is currently developing to enable it to work effectively with the new sub-regional infrastructure, there must be evidence of the contribution the unions can make to the low carbon and resource efficiency agenda. On this agenda, as on the promotion of economic development, skills and jobs, there is still a lack of awareness amongst LEPs, City Regions and regional climate change bodies of the wider contribution trade unions are making. Worryingly, there remains a fundamental misunderstanding of the TUC role on the part of some organisations, with trade unions seen as just another stakeholder 'to be managed', or even a barrier to progress, rather than an active and influential partner in the transition to a low carbon economy.

NW TUC must continue to reinforce the message that, given its access to nearly a third of the regional workforce in the public and private sectors, it can help to promote new skills and training programme, deliver proposals for energy and resource saving and work collaboratively with employers, training organisations and other bodies in promoting investment in the region in new green skills and jobs. A succinct document outlining why the TUC is interested in this agenda, its potential contribution and the impact it can make, could help dispel the impression that the trade unions hinder rather than enable progress.

Operating strategically to influence the low carbon growth agenda

Given the priority placed on delivering a low carbon economy by the LEPs, particularly in Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester, it is important that NW TUC works strategically with these bodies to promote its offer. Both GM and LCR have strong and ambitious plans to harness the economic opportunities arising from the transition to a low carbon and resource efficient economy, and a number of initiatives have been highlighted in this report that will be of specific interest to TUC and on which the LEPs would welcome engagement.

There is also the opportunity to help shape the emerging approach in Cheshire and Warrington. In Lancashire LEP priorities and structures make engagement less clear although an initial contact would be useful. There may, however, be merit in the NW TUC engaging directly with the major energy using companies in the region, either through cluster bodies such as Chemicals NW or by direct approach to the companies concerned.

Another immediate opportunity would be to put forward NW TUC for membership of Climate Change Northwest (the successor to the NW Climate Change Northwest Partnership) which seeks to work with all interested parties to pull together a shared vision and action across the North West. This would enable the NW TUC to keep abreast of emerging policy developments, network with the key private, public and third sector partners, as well promote action by NW businesses and their employees to address the impacts of climate change already in the system.

Coordination of union action

There is an increasing focus on large scale investments as the engine to deliver jobs and growth in the region e.g. Enterprise Zones, Skills for Growth agreements, Liverpool Superport and Media City which all involve the members of many different unions. The opportunity for increased coordination between unions has been identified in earlier studies, to provide a common set of 'asks' and to secure early and continued involvement in the development of these projects.

This approach should, however, not only be used to create and retain employment in the region but also to ensure that those new jobs reflect the need to adapt in the future to a low carbon and resource efficient economy. This will involve the identification of likely new job roles and ensuring appropriate local training and retraining is in place. Action will also be needed to ensure that procurement policies are adopted which allow local companies and social enterprises to compete effectively for new business such as the massive opportunities in offshore wind.

Workforce Skills and Union Reps

It is clear that the transition to a low carbon economy cannot be achieved without a well informed workforce with the appropriate skills. The Government's recognition of this fact and of the important role to be played by Unionlearn working with employers to support and educate the workforce should be encouraged and taken forward. Unionlearn's experience in encouraging employees to take on new skills particularly basic skills and Apprenticeships is likely to be welcomed not only by LEPs but also by Further Education Colleges who are increasingly expected to respond flexibly to the needs of local employers to up-skill the existing workforce.

Union Learner Reps are crucial in delivering union objectives at a local and company level. There is, therefore, an opportunity to promote this role and extend it further through Union Green Reps into the low carbon agenda working with employers to adapt and develop the skills of the workforce. Further work needs to be undertaken to help this forward and the Greener Workplaces initiative provides an ideal vehicle for this to be done. This approach is likely to improve employer relations and make a significant contribution to job retention and should be reviewed and extended.

Consideration could also be given to the development of a 'Green Compact' between unions and employers, which would aim to maximise the potential of the learning agenda for green actions. Of special interest here is the role that Collective Learning Funds could play in promoting environmental education and being replenished by the product of savings and efficiency gains resulting from jointly agreed action in the workplace.

Sharing of data and information

There is an enormous amount of valuable information already within the union movement about the transition to a low carbon and resource efficient economy which would benefit others if shared more widely among colleagues and provide the evidence underpinning the union offer and 'asks'. This can be done through increased use of social media, combined with more traditional methods of targeted workshops and newsletters, as required. In particular, the information in documents such as 1 Million Climate Jobs can be shared and interpreted for the local situation to demonstrate that growth and the low carbon agenda are complementary.

Working with High Energy Industries

The North West is particularly strong in manufacturing, which makes an important contribution to employment and growth in the region. However, many of these industries are heavy users of energy and it is possible for conflict to arise in terms of the possible threats to jobs and the economy if the shift to low carbon is not managed in a planned and equitable way. The Government has recognised this and proposes to introduce a new support package later this year to assist energy intensive industries plan for the transition to a low carbon economy. The TUC must continue to work with its affiliates and employers in the energy intensive industries such as advanced engineering, chemicals, glass and construction to secure investment and energy cost support in the transition to a low carbon future.

Promotion of STEM subjects

It is important for the TUC to demonstrate that it is still possible to have economic growth and a low carbon economy but in many manufacturing sectors this will be dependent on science based solutions. There are opportunities for unions to support initiatives to work with local employers to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) in local schools and colleges and thereby encourage the recruitment and development of a low carbon aware future workforce. With the fast changing requirements placed on modern manufacturing by the low carbon agenda there is also an opportunity to promote STEM subjects as a core requirement for up-skilling the existing workforce.

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