COP26 Activity

Head Office Circular: NP/399/21

27 October 2021

 

To: The Secretary

ALL BRANCHES 
ALL REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Dear Colleague

 

COP26 ACTIVTY 

 

The UN climate summit COP26 is taking place in Glasgow from 31 October – 12 November. Climate change is increasing the risk of extreme ecological events such as flooding and heatwaves, both in the UK and globally. Climate change is not just an environmental problem, but it also a problem of social and economic justice and should be a key issue for workers and trade unions. 

 

RMT is campaigning around COP26 to ‘Cut carbon emissions, not public transport jobs’, oppose the Government and companies’ attacks on jobs, conditions, pensions and services and to demand a Just Transition which protects jobs and conditions for members employed in the transport, offshore energy and maritime sectors.  

 

Below is a summary of the various COP26 events RMT is publicising or organising:

 

RMT ‘Cut carbon emissions, not public transport jobs’ demo – Thursday 4^th November

 

On Thursday 4^th November, as part of the ITF’s Public Transport Workers’ week of Global Climate Action, RMT is holding a demonstration outside the DfT office in London to demand that the Government ‘Cut carbon emissions, not public transport jobs’. 

 

The demo is taking place on Thursday 4^th November 2021, commencing at 10am at: Department for Transport; Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Rd, London, SW1P 4DR

 

Global day of action for climate justice – Saturday 6^th November 

 

A global day of action is taking place on Saturday 6^th November organised by the COP26 Coalition. As part of this a number of demonstrations are taking place in cities across the UK. These demos will have Trade Union blocs and are being publicised by Regional TUCs, Wales TUC and the STUC. 

 

Demos are taking place in cities including London, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Nottingham, Sheffield, Manchester and Liverpool. A map of the demos including links to RSVP and details of times and locations can be found here - https://www.wemaketomorrow.org/action. 

 

Copies of flyers and posters for the various events are here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/118y52ojrjHf2cqg1kjKy53M4GAylI30U

 

You can find out details of the Glasgow demo on the STUC website here -https://stuc.org.uk/campaigns-and-events/campaigns/cop-26/global-day-of-action

 

Anyone attending the demos are encouraged to take RMT banners, flags and placards. If you require RMT materials for demos, please contact Head Office in the first instance. 

 

Towards Net Zero? – Peace & Justice project – Wednesday 10^th November 

 

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch is taking part in a panel discussion organised by the Peace and Justice project. Topics under discussion include why public ownership of transport and energy is critical to address the climate crisis. Other speakers include Jeremy Corbyn and Roz Foyer (STUC General Secretary). 

 

The event is taking place at 8pm at Websters Theatre in Glasgow. More details and tickets are available here - https://thecorbynproject.com/towards-net-zero/

 

ITF COP26 virtual people’s summit – Wednesday 10^th November 

 

The ITF is holding a global virtual event “The future is public transport: Acting locally, acting globally for public investment” on Wednesday, 10 November at 11:45am. 

 

Details of the event are available here - https://cop26coalition.org/peoples-summit/the-future-is-public-transport-acting-locally-acting-globally-for-public-investment-2/

 

The zoom link is - https://itf-org-uk.zoom.us/j/98364228209

 

Please share details of these events with members and reps in your branch and region. 

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary