Last month, union and climate activists came together to relaunch Red Green Drinks, hosted by Trades Hall and ASU. We heard about campaigns and initiatives from Sunrise Project's Miriam Lyons, ASU Private Sector Assistant Secretary Cassie Farley, Degrowth Network's Anisa Rogers and CoPower's Ricky Lebenholc.

It was a roaring success with over 70 attendees! Events like these are important in building solidarity between the climate and worker movements. 

Watch this space for more events in the future.

2035 Emissions Reduction Target

Last week, the Federal Government announced the nation's new 2035 emissions target: 62-70% below 2005 levels by 2035. 

Modelling from Climate Resource last year concluded that a 65% reduction for Australia, assuming every country were to adopt equivalent per capita share of remaining global emissions budget, would put us on a trajectory of at least 2.3-2.6 C of warming.

The realities of this level of warming are extremely dire for workers. 

Unions and environment groups have responded, with the AEU calling for higher targets, saying “Students deserve a future where their education is not at the mercy of extreme weather events.”

AEU Deputy Federal President Meredith Peace said: “The government’s 62 to 70% target is woefully inadequate. We need bold, ambitious goals that will genuinely reduce emissions, protect our communities, and safeguard the future of today’s students.”

The ETU highlighted the urgent need for more electrical workers to build the energy infrastructure to meet these targets. The 2035 targets will create an additional 25,000 jobs per year in the electrical, construction and service sectors. We are already experiencing an electrical worker shortage, so meeting these new targets will require a dramatic scaling up of electrical worker training by:

Boosting industry-led training through the TAFE system
Supporting industry-led GTOs in renewable energy zones
Delivering fit for purpose mentoring for apprentices to boost retention rates.

Offshore Wind Delayed in Victoria

Victorian unions have been campaigning for years for offshore wind, given its substantial jobs potential.

Last week, the offshore wind industry suffered a setback, with the Victorian Government announcing an indefinite delay on the first auction for offshore wind in Gippsland. 

“I am disappointed to announce that Victoria will be delaying the formal procurement process for our first offshore wind auction,” state energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio said.

“For some context for the delay, we lost about 12 months from our original timelines because of delays that are outside our control as a state, including in issuing feasibility licenses and finalising regulations, and as a result of the original rejection of the Port of Hastings EPBC referral."

For offshore wind to succeed, we will need financial support from the federal government.

D’Ambrosio was adamant the delay should not reflect on the state’s commitment to its offshore wind strategy, which through legislated targets is anticipated to make up as much as half of the state’s energy needs in future.

VTHC and Victorian unions recently stepped up our advocacy, meeting with senior ministers in Canberra as well as joint letters to MPs. We will continue this advocacy work over the coming months.

National Climate Risk Assessment

The release of Australia’s first National Climate Risk Assessment (NCRA) confirms the climate shocks that disaster-impacted communities have been warning of, and shows the need for urgent government action to ensure no one is left to shoulder these burdens alone. 

The consequences of warming in the mid 2's are laid out in the assessment. It would mean, for example, that 1.5M people in Australian coastal communities are at perpetual 'high' or 'very high' risk of flooding. 

Check out UWU's response and the Renew Australia for All media release here.

ICJ Ruling 

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in a case brought forward by Vanuatu, found that government actions driving climate change were unlawful and fossil fuel exporters should be held legally responsible for their emissions.

 "This is a landmark unanimous opinion of the court which is unprecedented in its breadth and precedential value," according to Donald Rothwell, ANU Professor of International Law.

Following the 2035 emissions reduction target, this has serious implications for Australia ahead of COP31. In particular, relations with our Pacific neighbours, and also Torres Strait Islanders who have recently pursued litigation against the Commonwealth in the Federal Court.

International Developments

Check out United Auto Worker's new report: ‘Organize, Industrialize, Decarbonize! A Pro-Worker, Green Industrial Policy for California’. It is a worker-led vision for the climate transition that centres the needs of working people. The report declares that we must embrace strong industrial policies that empower workers, working class communities, and the state to deliver good union jobs, affordable energy, and a liveable planet.