THE CLIMATE CRISIS & CLIMATE JUSTICE

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

ORGANIZING FOR JUST TRANSITIONS

We are committed to just transitions in the context of climate justice for workers. This means using our union power to ensure that the mitigation and adaptation policies of employers, industries and governments contribute to greater economic and social justice, and do not deepen inequality and injustice.

We must strengthen gender perspectives and gender equity in trade union responses to climate change, climate action plans and just transitions, and ensure that the rights, participation, decision-making role of women are fully recognized and incorporated into these programs and policies.

We must integrate youth employment and quality apprenticeships in just transitions, ensuring better paid, secure, skilled, and meaningful work for young workers.

CLIMATE DISPLACEMENT

The IUF Asia/Pacific supports policy intervention and advocacy by affiliated unions to tackle climate displacement and climate migration. This includes fighting for access to public resources and social protection to reduce the vulnerability of displaced working communities and ensure access to the right to food and nutrition, housing, education, health care and decent work.
 
The climate displacement of agricultural workers, marginal farmers, fisherfolk and their communities due to extreme weather events (heat waves, drought, wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, cyclones) also has a far-reaching impact on food security, and the right to food and nutrition. As climate displacement increases vulnerability, poverty and debt, it has become also significant driver of child labour. 

THE CLIMATE CRISIS & THE RIGHT TO FOOD

We recognize the tremendous impact that the climate crisis, war and military conflict have on food security and the right to food and nutrition. We are committed to ensuring that securing the right to food is a key objective in our work on the climate crisis, defending democracy and promoting peace.

We must integrate into the sustainable agriculture and food security activities of affiliated unions climate resilient farming methods, crop biodiversity and crop adaptation strategies in response to extreme weather, changing seasonality, rising salinity and acidity and increased pests and diseases; including the promotion and development of agricultural cooperatives for this purpose.

THE CLIMATE CRISIS & WORKERS' HEALTH

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.

CLIMATE ANXIETY & YOUTH

Climate anxiety is increasing as more and more people experience the climate crisis directly and indirectly through extreme weather events (heat waves, drought, wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, cyclones) and rising sea levels. Clearly those immediately affected by rising temperatures, rising sea levels and extreme weather events are likely to experience greater emotional and mental distress. This distress is intensified by a feeling of hopelessness and a deeper sense of knowing that when the fires, floods or heat waves are over, more is coming.
 
Across the Asia-Pacific region more children and young people are experiencing climate anxiety. This risks becoming a serious threat to their mental health and well-being. On the other hand it also reflects an awareness of the climate crisis and empathy with the planet and other people. We must build on this to engage young workers in a range of collective activities to tackle climate change and restore planetary health, which in turn helps to alleviate climate anxiety. This must become an integral part of trade union activities.
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