The climate crisis and the risk of a cascading climate collapse calls for greater action by unions to support immediate and far-reaching cuts to carbon emissions in all of the IUF sectors and to develop policies and strategies for the equitable and fair transition to clean energy and zero carbon.

Recognizing the impact of climate change on food security, rising sea levels, and the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, we must use our union power to protect the health, livelihoods and well-being of our members, their families and their communities. This needs climate justice.

To achieve this we are developing a comprehensive education and training program on the climate crisis, climate justice and just transitions with affiliates in the IUF sectors, including:

• education for members on the causes of climate change, the economic, social and health impacts of the climate crisis, and the meaning of climate justice and just transitions;
• understanding the impact of extreme heat, heat stress on workers in the workplace and in their communities and strategies for mitigation and adaptation
• incorporating the climate impact on workers’ health and working conditions into Occupational Safety, Health & the Environment [OSH&E] training
• training on how to evaluate the clean energy and transition policies of employers, industries and governments, understand the limits of “net zero”, and improve the ability of unions to negotiate just transitions

The IUF Asia/Pacific works with affiliated unions to investigate the impact of the climate crisis on workers’ health. We focus on the impact of extreme weather events [heat waves, wildfires, cyclones and typhoons, drought, and flooding], rising sea levels, and disruption to seasonality to incomes, employment and livelihoods in the IUF sectors. Thus includes the formal and informal agricultural sectors and plantations.

We also address workers’ exposure to extreme weather events and their ability to travel safely to and from their workplaces.

One of the key areas of work involves monitoring the impact of unsafe working hours [for outdoor work] on workers’ health and working conditions; and lost potential working hours/working days due to extreme weather events on the incomes and livelihoods of workers, marginal farmers and fisherfolk.