The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) are hosting an energy conference at the Lighthouse in Glasgow.

Leading researchers, academics, industry experts, trade unionists, and politicians will gather for the STUC Conference on Energy.

With a range of political parties committing to earlier carbon emission targets, the conference will ask: "is there sufficient political commitment for the massive investment required to deliver a Just Transition? Or will workers in Scotland once again be left behind?"

Ahead of the conference the STUC said: "How the Trade Union movement rises to these challenges is crucial. Far from depending on the good will of political parties, workers are preparing to build the industrial and political strength to win the changes in energy production that are vital for our communities and country, and for working class people across the world who will be the first to suffer from the devastation wrought by climate change and energy privilege.


"With workshops and plenary sessions presenting a diverse range of views on energy, climate change and trade unionism, this Conference will bring together researchers, academics, and industry experts with trade unionists from the energy sector and the wider trade union movement.

"With contributions from politicians as well as distinguished academics, environmental NGOs and leading trade unionists from the STUC, Unite the Union, Unison, GMB, Prospect and RMT, the conference will not shy away from tough and tricky issues about the future of gas, divestment and diversification. Workers' debate on these subjects looks set to shape the union agenda on energy for 2020, a year that will see Scotland put in the spotlight of climate debate with UN Climate Change Talks in Glasgow."

Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary added: "We know that in order to stop climate change, we need to drastically cut carbon emissions. We are also clear that workers and communities should not pay the price for these changes, in Scotland and beyond.

"Decent heating systems for low income families need to be decarbonised and remain affordable. Scottish producers need to be winning good quality unionised jobs in the low-carbon supply chain, which are currently being sent offshore halfway around the world to the detriment of the environment.

"Public ownership, nationalisation and workers' control over industry are back on the agenda for the first time in a generation. Workers and unions will be looking at connected and conflicting priorities in Scotland for bringing strategic assets back into public hands and workers' control. And just as urgent, we will look at strategies for organising effectively to take action in the power sector. This conference will be critical for setting this agenda going forward and leading the fight during the climate crisis."

(MH/JG)