Because it is at all levels that climate action is needed and because only pressure from civil society will guarantee genuine climate action, trade unions are organising training workshops for shop-stewards, in various locations, including in their workplaces.
What is climate change? What are delegates discussing in COP17? What are the implications for workers of climate change in terms of local impacts and local action? Those questions and many more are being answered, discussed and debated.
The first training session took place in the University of KwazuNatal. So far 150 workers from various sectors (coal miners, public service workers, etc) discussed climate change and Just Transition. Participants were also eager to know how to convince developed nations to agree on reducing greenhouse gases emissions. Echoing previous civil society messages, a participant mentioned how COP17 should not be about talking but acting. Unions also engaged in honest discussions as a member of COSATU campaign for climate change insisted that unions also need to scale up their own actions on climate change.
Unions marched, along with other civil society movements, in the streets of Durban on 3rd December. And... as a participant suggested... One day, we should have a global strike on climate change!
