It heard that UN climate scientists have delivered a final
warning on the climate crisis to act now before it’s too late, after a flurry
of recent reports showed the urgency of taking action to reach real zero by
2035 not 2050, the UK Government target.
Moving the motion, ATUC’s Morag Lawrence told
delegates that the recent information brought to us by the United Nations
Climate Scientists warn us that the urgency to reach a true net zero is far
more imminent than first thought.
“This means that the government and others with target dates of 2050 now clearly need to be aiming for 2035,” warned Morag.
She pointed to a report by the Uk governments own Climate Agency, which states ‘There has been a lost decade failing to deliver any progress towards a climate resilient infrastructure'.
“This is due to their own inaction,” slammed Morag.
“In April the government rebranded their Net Zero Strategy as an Energy Strategy, based on private sector led growth in new North Sea developments supported by government grants and tax breaks.
“No mention of a just transition based on low carbon jobs in retrofitting and renewables as advocated by this Congress.
“Instead we need investment in a climate resilient just transition to help deliver a fairer and equal society.”
She called for the STUC to engage with members and civic society to campaign for a fully funded Climate Emergency Resilient Just Transition Action Plan with statutory backing. And to build a UK wide coalition campaigning together for a Just Transition Action Plan.
