The world is heating up, like a greenhouse. This is because certain forms of pollution - such as carbon dioxide - are trapping heat in the atmosphere.  As the world heats up, we are seeing more extreme weather such as droughts, floods and storms, and sea levels are rising. This in turn will lead to more food shortages, many more refugees, and the risk of more conflicts. This is known as climate change.

Climate change has largely been caused by individual consumption in wealthy countries, but it is going to hit the poorest hardest - both in this country and around the world. Moving to a low carbon lifestyle is an action of solidarity.

Many traditional union strengths - collective action, peer learning, democratic accountability - have a new relevance in getting to, and thriving in, a low carbon world. If the rights of working people are to be protected during the 21st century, trade unionists will need to be at the forefront of shaping the low carbon economy.

Climate change is becoming a major issue in the workplace. Many employers already have internal policies and targets for cutting emissions, and government will also be introducing mandatory targets known as the Carbon Reduction Commitment. These changes will have implications for working practices, including home working, travel, workplace environments, waste handling, work canteens and so on. Climate Solidarity is a means of understanding and becoming skilled in an issue that is increasingly important in the workplace and negotiations. It compliments other initiatives such as the TUC's Greening the Workplace.

Finally, Climate Solidarity is a great opportunity for involving less active union members, and non-union employees, in a positive collective campaign - increasing awareness of the union in the workplace.

Interested? - Get involved!