The threats posed by climate change are no longer hypothetical worries. Every year, the weather is getting more extreme, with droughts, flooding, monsoons and more becoming commonplace across the globe.
So far Britain hasn’t been affected as severely as some parts of the planet, but we’re not immune. The mercury-bursting temperatures this summer were expected to cause 600 heat-related deaths in the UK. This could rise to 30,000 a year by the 2070s, researchers warn.
In many cases it will be left to UNISON members to pick up the pieces for this climate catastrophe: desperately trying to keep the most vulnerable cool in care homes, finding a way to make hospital patients comfortable, extra gritting, flood defences and so much more — all depend on our public services.
But public service workplaces are also contributing to the problem. Take the NHS: it is responsible for around 4% of the UK’s carbon emissions. UNISON reps are uniquely placed to green the health service, pointing out where energy is wasted, suggesting ways to cut down on rubbish and so on. The same is true across our public services.
Of course, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact the biggest polluters are billionaire-owned companies without the social conscious to improve matters.
We need to push government ministers to do more, but we can’t wait for ministers to act. We need to do what we can where we have the power to make a change.
That’s why UNISON is celebrating Green Week this week, paving the way for Year of Green Activity.
Throughout 2026 we’ll be focusing on greening our workplaces. There are national events planned, but they’ll have the most impact if you and your colleagues do something in your branches and workplaces.
Raise awareness of the threat and bargain for better. This is a challenge we all have to face up to.
