Around 1,500 people have been killed and more than 30 million displaced in Pakistan after heavy rainfall and flooding submerged around a third of the country.
But this is not a far-off tragedy in another corner of the planet, it’s one made in Britain and the rest of the developed world over the last two centuries.
Climate scientists have confirmed that, while poor infrastructure played a part in the huge death toll, the extreme levels of rainfall are down to global warming, with temperatures driven up by Western pollution.
It highlights exactly why we hold an annual Green UNISON Week. Branches will be organising a variety of activities on greening our public services, leading up to our Green UNISON webinar on 29 September.
The first step branches can take during this week is to make sure they have got an environmental officer.
UNISON Essex environmental officer John Dear explains: “This is a new role for UNISON. It’s our job to co-ordinate the union’s green and environmental agenda in branch. It’s also part of the role to represent the workforce when companies and employers discuss or negotiate environmental policies and practices.”
John, a UNISON member at South Essex College since 2015, was eager to do more for UNISON and jumped at the chance to become environmental officer in April 2021.
“So far I’ve taken part in branch committee meetings, arranged a Zoom meeting with other environmental officers to discuss a way forward and drawn up a list of green ideas.
“I’ve also taken part in a COP26 demonstration in Basildon, made sure our branch’s promotional items are environmentally friendly and learned more about our union. At the moment I’m looking forward to Green UNISON Week.
“As part of Green UNISON Week, I’ll be taking part in the Green UNISON webinar on 29 September. There are also workshops from the women’s environment network, and Friday’s For Futures global action on Friday 23 September.”
