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• TUC welcomes Yorkshire Climate Action Plan as an example of how trade unions and business can work together on climate

Trade union delegates to the Yorkshire Climate Summit have today (Wednesday) warned COP26 President Alok Sharma that he is putting progress at risk by neglecting the need for regional commitments to a ‘just transition’.

The Paris Agreement (2015) committed nations to taking account of “the imperatives of a just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs in accordance with nationally defined development priorities”.

But the UK government has failed to devolve the power and funding necessary for Yorkshire’s leaders to take action on climate change. The TUC believes devolving more powers to mayors to enact climate policies should be central to the UK government’s national commitments at COP26.

The union federation welcomed the launch of the Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission Action Plan launched today, which has been negotiated between unions, business and local government, as an example of how industry can work together towards Net Zero.

TUC Yorkshire & Humber Regional Secretary Bill Adams said:

“The Glasgow Agreement will be far more credible with just transition at its heart. World leaders need a plan to take home that working people can get behind. A plan that protects jobs, livelihoods and rights every step of the way to net zero.

“Here in Yorkshire, that means government giving mayors more powers to enact regional climate policies, more funding for green infrastructure such as mass transit and buses, and more authority to bring business and unions round the table to negotiate together.

“That is why we welcome the Yorkshire & Humber Climate Action Plan, as an example of unions, business and government working together to agree common climate goals. Where Westminster is failing, we in Yorkshire are leading the way. The only thing holding us back is the need for more powers and funding.”  

ENDS

Editors note
  • The TUC is the co-chair of the Yorkshire Climate Commission’s Future Economy Panel, which aims to bring business and unions together to agree a coordinated industrial strategy on decarbonisation
  • The UK trade union delegation to COP26 includes Prospect, RMT, UNISON, Unite, UCU, and Community, alongside trade union centres.
  • The Trades Union Congress (TUC) exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. We bring together the 5.5 million working people who make up our 48 member unions. We support unions to grow and thrive, and we stand up for everyone who works for a living.

Contacts:

Gareth Forest (Lewis)
gforest@tuc.org.uk
0113 200 1075
07810 374976 

TUC national press office 
media@tuc.org.uk  
020 7467 1248 

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