Decarbonising public services

Conference calls on the Northern Ireland Committee to progress a campaign to decarbonise public services in Northern Ireland. Following the passage of Northern Ireland’s Climate Change Act this year, the transition to a zero-carbon economy is especially urgent. Conference agrees that this should be a just transition, with poverty eradication and social justice at its core. 

Conference believes that there is a clear role for health, education and wider public services to play in tackling the climate emergency. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) identify public services as a ‘sector at risk’, highlighting the likelihood of natural disasters to put pressure on emergency and rescue services, and the healthcare sector in particular. The consequences of climate change will continue to impact on human health, and the health of workers. 

Conference agrees that there is an opportunity for our public services to lead by example, delivering green and sustainable public services for the benefit of workers, the general public and the planet. Conference notes the publication of the ICTU ‘Time to Climate and Employment Proof our Workplaces’ Guidance which refers to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Climate and Employment Proof our Work campaign. This campaign highlights that every employer must have a plan for climate and employment proofing and that Just Transition measures must be at the heart of such plans, with workers and their unions part of ongoing dialogue.

Conference calls on the Northern Ireland Committee to work with the wider trade union movement, and our allies to: 

· Campaign for devolved government to set aside adequate funds to decarbonise Northern Ireland’s public services, rather than diverting money from already underfunded public services or relying on private investment; 

· Campaign for funding for relevant government departments, local councils and the NI Housing Executive, accompanied by statutory powers to begin a decarbonisation programme across public buildings and housing; 

· Secure trade union representation on Northern Ireland’s new Just Transition Commission; 

· Modernise public procurement social provisions (including in-house award assessments and ‘price-quality’ ratios);

· Support affiliates in seeking that public sector employers give agreed workplace facility time for environment reps to negotiate on just transition and decarbonisation plans.