The climate emergency is no longer a distant threat—it’s a reality unfolding now, directly impacting UNISON members, their workplaces, and the vital public services they provide. London finds itself at the frontline of these changes, making UNISON’s Green Week more important than ever.
The Climate Crisis is hitting London hard
The UK Committee on Climate Change has declared that the next decade will be critical in averting a climate catastrophe, and London is feeling the strain. With air pollution claiming an estimated 9,400 lives annually in the capital alone, this isn’t just a distant, abstract issue—it affects all of us.
Those who live and work in the city are particularly vulnerable. Londoners, especially in the most deprived areas, are disproportionately affected by the toxic air that hangs over their streets. And it’s not just air pollution. London is predicted to be 3°C warmer by 2050, increasing the likelihood of heat-related deaths, droughts, and flooding. This is a ticking time bomb, threatening not just the health of individuals, but the functioning of London communities as a whole.
The NHS, already stretched to its limits, is seeing the effects. Nationally, there have been an additional 20,000 hospital admissions annually due to climate change, burdening the health service even further. This is yet another reason why addressing the climate crisis is critical, not just for the planet, but for the survival of our public services.
It’s not all doom and gloom
While these figures are alarming, it’s not all doom and gloom. Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, has pledged for the city to become net-zero by 2030. The results of his climate initiatives are already visible: between 2014-2016 and 2017-2019, there was a 30% reduction in hospital admissions due to air pollution, proving that when bold steps are taken, like extending the Ultra Low Emission Zone, lives are saved.
As a union, we have a vital role to play in campaigning for greener politics and working with employers to make workplaces more sustainable.
In London, we’ve already made a difference by campaigning for the extension of the ULEZ vehicle scrappage scheme, which has allowed London residents to access financial assistance to scrap, donate or retrofit vehicles that do not meet ULEZ standards.
By harnessing the collective power of our membership, we’ll ensure a safe, healthy and thriving future for generations to come.
What can you do?
- Join UNISON if you’re not already a member, and recruit a friend
- The more of us there are demanding change and calling for sustainable public services, the more likely our demands will be taken seriously.
- Sign up to UNISON’s Green Network
- To find out more about our Green UNISON campaign, and how you can get involved, sign up here
- Become a ‘Citizen Scientist’
- This is where people are encouraged to enter their own local information, or samples, on a climate change related issue to help gather important mass data that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. Find out more here
- Become a UNISON Green Rep
- Just as UNISON stewards and health & safety reps meet with employers to demand fairer policies and raise health & safety concerns, Green Reps can champion environmental issues and what the organisation can do to ‘green the workplace’. Whether it’s urging them to agree to more sustainably sourced paper, or encouraging cycle, walk or public transport to work schemes, there’s a lot you can do to make your workplace more green. Contact your local branch to find out more.
- Utilise UNISON’s ‘Bargaining on green issues in the workplace guide’
- A step-by-step guide covering the basics but also guiding you to get fully engaged in a partnership approach with your employer on all things climate change. Find out more here