Trade unions can help combat climate change
Climate change refers to a long-term change in the Earth’s climate, either through human activities or natural fluctuation. It is a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over temporal periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It is caused by the exponential increase of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) in the atmosphere. It is one of the serious global issues. The Earth is expected to warm by around 0.2°C per decade for the following two decades. By the end of the twenty-first century, the temperature will rise by 2.4 °C to 6.4 °C, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The Himalayas are warming at least 0.6 °C per decade, which is three times greater than the rate predicted by the IPCC for the following decades. The Himalayan region’s temperature is reportedly rising faster than the global average. The annual increase in Nepal’s maximum temperature between 1978 and 1994 was 0.06 °C, with higher rates at elevated areas. Global climate change is said to occur more quickly at higher than lower elevations (about 1 degree every 160 meters), having a considerable impact on the trans-Himalayan region. One of the pillars of the economy is the functioning and management of the working class, which directly affects the economic development of nations. The management of the working class is now directly influenced by climate change. With enormous consequences for economic expansion, employment, health, and way of life, climate change poses immense challenges to sustainable development. Hence, to improve the welfare of the working class and the economy, labor unions should recommend the government develop a policy of green jobs. Most people's lives are entwined with their work and depend on it for survival worldwide. The effectiveness of the working class significantly affects the global economy. Yet, workers' productivity and working habits are already being impacted by climate change, which will likely result in less efficient labor production and the risk of losing or failing to get jobs. In Nepal, workers are frequently denied access to safety equipment at work, which reduces their productivity, increases their risk of health issues, and, in some situations, increases their danger of dying at work from accidents. Unsafe and excessive stress can result in severe long-term ailments, bodily and mental suffering, and even death. So, it immediately affects the state economy, as demonstrated in productivity and service. As the working class must toil daily to survive, it is crucial to inform them about the risk that climate change may pose. The Ministry of Labor should promote the policy of creating green jobs, including labor and climate change issues, in its annual plans. Labour organizations should prioritize this in their efforts. Trade unions should take the following measures as part of efforts to combat climate change:
- Educate the working class about the effects of climate change
- Prioritize climate change on the union’s agenda.
- Coordinate with organizations associated with climate change, water, and environmental sectors
- Draft a green economic policy with the government
- Make the workplace more environmentally friendly in terms of water and air
- Initiate efforts to make industrial sectors water and environment-friendly
- Encourage the development of the workforce’s necessary skills to create a green economy
- Launch projects to use renewable energy to power industries
- Raise public awareness on nature conservation
- Conduct research for establishing connection between climate change and employment
- Involve employees in establishing the viability of climate change policies
- Diversify the unions by attracting new members and representatives for pursuing environmental agendas
- Strive to combat climate change by taking equity, justice and cooperation as crucial elements
