'There are no jobs on a dead planet'

UNISONScotland visitors will notice today that we "turned the lights out" on the UNISONScotland homepage as a gesture to raise awareness of WWF’s Earth Hour 2015.

Ok, it saves no energy; modern displays use the same amount of power regardless of what they display, but it will draw attention to WWF’s Earth Hour - an inspiring message of hope and action – and a global demonstration about climate change.

On Saturday, March 28, 2015, Earth Hour invites people around the world to turn off their lights for one hour – from 8:30pm to 9:30pm in their local time zone (we've started a little earlier and we'll return to the usual page a little later).

In Paris in December 2015 United Nations talks take place with the aim of securing a strong international agreement to cut carbon emissions and protect the future of the planet.

This week the International Trade Union Confederation issued the results of a global poll showing support for stronger government action.

And a new ITUC briefing explains the importance of the Paris talks and a Just Transition to a low carbon economy.

Scottish political leaders have backed Earth Hour, as usual. But the Scottish Government has missed three climate change emissions reduction targets already, despite proudly boasting of Scotland’s world leading legislation.

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland is asking supporters to lobby First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to deliver the action needed to meet the Scottish Act’s targets and to work for a strong global deal this year.

As the ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow said: “We know the science is unequivocal. Without urgent and ambitious action we will face a temperature rise of 4ºC or more this century and irreversible changes in our climate.”

Climate change is a trade union issue and there are no jobs on a dead planet.