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The Climate Outreach and Information Network (COIN) has launched an innovative new project, Climate Solidarity, funded by Defra's greener living fund aimed at mobilising the UK trade union movement on climate change.

The project will see COIN working with four trade unions, including PCS, to build a sustainable society in which new low carbon workplaces thrive and provide green jobs for the future.

It builds on core trade union ideals of collective action, social justice and solidarity and will mobilise a combined union membership of nearly one million.

Tim Baster, COIN’s executive director, said: “The partnership of climate solidarity is delighted to be part of the greener living fund.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for trade union members from CWU, NUT, PCS, UCU and the wider trade union movement to work together to create the sustainable and just society that we all know is necessary."

This project is a great opportunity for PCS to build on the significant work we are already doing around climate change

 

PCS assistant general secretary Chris Baugh said: “This project is a great opportunity for PCS to build on the significant work we are already doing around climate change and environmental issues both at national and at workplace level.

“We look forward to working with COIN and the other unions to increase workplace activism and believe the project will demonstrate further that it is unions that are leading the way and making a real difference in the workplace and the wider community. ”

The project aims to create a wave of action across the trade union network by inspiring community action on transport (travel to work and the efficient use of cars), housing (cutting bills, switching to low carbon suppliers and fitting insulation) and food (ending waste and buying locally).

It will achieve this by supporting 180 trade union members to present climate change issues to their peers and create some 1,100 action groups over the course of the two year project.

Each action group will work together for 6 months to make “sustainable” attainable and will communicate their work to many thousands more trade union members across the UK.

By working with the trade union movement, COIN and its partners hope to affect the biggest ever mobilisation effort on climate change in the UK, creating the basis for a more just and sustainable society for all.

Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said:”It’s a pleasure to launch the Greener Living Fund today, and to announce the eight successful projects from around England which have won funding for the next two years.

“Each of these projects will make a real difference in helping individuals and communities to live more sustainably - reducing their carbon footprint and reducing pressure on natural resources.”