Starting to Talk: CUPE Climate Change Conversations

CUPE National Environment Committee

CUPE activists rally for climate jobs, November 2015.

CUPE leadership on climate change: Charles Fleury at UN negotiations, December 2015.

Labour and civil society march for climate justice in Ottawa, November 2015.

Why are we talking about climate change?

• Scientists agree that we need urgent action.

• Unions must be leaders in the fight against climate change.

And the first step is…

• Learn about the issue.

• Talk about climate change with other CUPE members.

Climate change impacts:More extreme weather

Colder in Canada in 2014 but warmer almost

everywhere else

Hot! 2015 was the hottest year on record:• 0.9oC above 20th century average.• Five hottest years on record: 2015,

2014, 2010, 2013 and 2005.

Calgary, June 22nd 2013

Alberta Flood

Toronto, July 8th 2013

Massive storms

Hurricane Sandy, October 2012

Flash floods

Athens, Greece, February 2013

Flash floods

Pakistan, August 2012

Drought

Poyang Lake, China, May 2011

Drought & water supply

Folsom Lake, California, 2014

Wild fires

California, September 2012

Melting permafrost

Shishmaref, Alaska, 2014

Systems vulnerable to climate

Water Food Health Jobs

Discussion question:

What effects linked to climate change have you experienced or seen where you live

and work?

Climate change: The proof

• We have seen the impacts. Climate change is happening now and is getting worse.

• Let’s look at the science of climate change.

Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere.

GHGs build up over time and disrupt the chemistry of the atmosphere.

What are the main types of GHGs?

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2)• Methane• Water vapour

Where do greenhouse gases come from?

Some stats & impacts: The average rate of global climate,

water and weather disasters has more than doubled over the past ten years to 306 disasters per year.

These disasters cost, on average, $131 billion per year.

From 1992-2011, Greenland lost 3.35 trillion tonnes of ice.

39.8 billion tonnes of CO2 were emitted in 2013, versus 24.9 billion tonnes in 1992.

The science of climate change

The IPCC (Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change) brings the science on climate change together.

Its work is the largest scientific collaboration in human history.

IPCC conclusions: • Humans are the

dominant cause of Global Warming.

• GHG emissions must be cut.

Historic Fossil Fuel Emissions

(the “hockey stick” graph)

This is what you call a warming trend:

2015 was the 39th consecutive year with a global temperature above the 20th century average.

We are heading to 2 degrees or more of warming across the planet.

Discussion question:

If these trends continue, what do you think the impacts will

be in the next 25 or 50 years?

There are solutions!

Activism and political pressure.

Workplace environmentalism.

Legislation and regulation.Climate jobs and greening

the economy.

Activism: CUPE climate rally, November 2015

Green workplace actions:

• Environmental committees.• Workplace green audits.• Green bargaining.• Member to member conversations.

Legislation and regulation

• Municipal• Provincial• Federal• International agreements

Climate jobs and greening the economy

• Renewable energy.

• Public transportation.

• Green buildings.

• Just transition.

Discussion questions:

• What are your ideas for dealing with climate change?

• How can we talk with other CUPE members about climate change?

• Will you have a CUPE climate change conversation or two where you work?

CUPE and the climate

Want to talk more?There are other resources here:

• The CUPE National Environment Committee.• Your division CUPE environment committee.• National office (mfirth@cupe.ca).