SIPTU to light up Liberty Hall tonight in support of climate change protests
SIPTU representatives have today (Saturday 6th November) demanded urgent action to end the climate emergency and insist that a just transition for workers must be at the heart of all climate action policy.
The call comes as climate and union activists took to the streets to send a message to politicians attending the COP26 conference in Glasgow that they must move beyond words and take real action before it is too late. The union also confirmed, as part of a Global Day of Action for climate justice, that Liberty Hall will light up the Dublin skyline orange from 5pm to 1am tonight in solidarity with people fighting for climate justice worldwide.
Secretary of SIPTU’s Global Solidarity Committee, Yvonne O ‘Callaghan, said: “We are in a climate emergency and urgent action is needed to stem the pace of climate change. We must do all we can to protect our people and our planet before it is too late. Our union is fully committed to delivering real action on climate justice. The reality is that the effects of climate change will continue to fall disproportionately on those already poverty or insecure work, in carbon-intensive industries and those in fossil fuel dependent countries unless something drastic is done now. This imbalance risks exacerbating existing gender, racial and other inequalities and we cannot allow that to happen and that gap to grow even further.”
She added: “We all must step up our efforts to act in solidarity with marginalised groups and with those in communities in the global south. They are already suffering the most from the effects of climate change. No one should be left behind as the world transitions to a climate friendly economy.
Climate justice and social justice can go hand in hand. It’s a choice.
As trade unionists we will use our collective strength to help communities, youth movements and civil society to keep the pressure on governments to move beyond words to real action and build a truly just transition for workers and communities.”
