Business leaders must engage with their workers, and take climate action seriously

The inaugural annual Pledge Activation Day saw the YHCC gathering those who have signed its Climate Action Pledge together for the first time to learn lessons from each other, make space to sit with the scale of the challenge, and chart positive, inclusive, and fair routes towards sustainable futures for all businesses.

Sustainability is a challenging topic for many. Easily seen as either too big and woolly, or a threat that will increase the cost of doing business. But this is simply not true. Sustainability is increasingly a topic which organisations can’t avoid, and which, engaged with properly, means lower running costs, slicker systems, streamlined services, and more valued staff.

Net zero can be a hassle, but only insofar as any change management or the obligation to stay relevant is a hassle. The shocking heat waves, the cost of fossil fuel energy, wildfires, and the threat of being out-competed internationally, all mean that climate action is essential to any business that doesn’t want to collapse. This is why events like this matter. 

From the Tyne to the Humber, the opportunities of net zero and the changes demanded by emission reduction goals require bold, practical action everywhere.

That’s why I’m calling on business leaders in the North East to join us: Take the Climate Action Pledge alongside the regional TUC, Natural England, Severfield, Northern Gas Network, Suma, Drax, the University of Leeds, and a hundred more. By doing so, you’re committing to more than cutting emissions—you’re standing up for a future that is fair, just, and built on the skills and knowledge of working people.

The Pledge is built on four pillars of effective climate action: strong leadership, engaged employees, engaged stakeholders, and fairness and inclusion. Because here’s the reality: there’s no route to net zero without concerted, inclusive decision-making. And there’s no world where employers are better off not talking to their staff, not learning from shopfloor expertise, and not bringing their workers with them.

Workers in general and trade unionists in particular can be the bridge between sustainability ambitions and on-the-ground delivery, as engagement with workers can be the difference between safe and dangerous working environments.

Engagement isn’t about slowing things down—it’s about getting it right. It’s about making sure the transition to net zero happens. And making sure that it happens in a way that makes work better, safer, more efficient, and capable of supporting our communities for years to come.

I invite you to sign the Climate Action Pledge today. Take your future seriously. Commit to longevity, innovation, and a business you can be proud to tell your grandchildren about. And join the club of those who are trying for a better world. To find out more go to www.climateactionpledge.org.uk 

First published in the Journal (Newcastle-upon-Tyne), 1 September 2025