Union proposes radical plan to tackle global warming
By Rob Edwards
Environment Editor

Every public sector organisation should have to justify the impact on the climate of every decision it takes, under plans to be put forward by the trade union, Unison.

Councils, enterprise agencies, government bodies and the government itself would all be accountable for any development or plan which increases the pollution that is warming the globe.

Unison is proposing that chief executives responsible for climate-wrecking schemes should be hauled up before school children to explain their actions.

Unison, which represents 162,000 public service workers in Scotland, will this week make its submission to the consultation on the Scottish government's draft climate change bill. The union will propose a "general duty on public bodies to consider climate change in all decisions and report on progress annually". That would mean introducing legislation obliging public agencies to take account of the effect on global warming in every decision, in much the same way as they have to consider impacts on equal opportunities.

Unison will suggest that a selection of the annual reports produced by public bodies should be called in by a Scottish parliamentary committee for scrutiny at Holyrood. Locally, the union says, there should be "an annual schools gathering where students could question appropriate councillors and officials".

According to Unison's Scottish organiser, Dave Watson, facing direct questions from school children would be the more challenging. "If a public body is going to do something barmy that will damage the climate, it doesn't mean they can't do it. But it does mean it has to be flagged up," he says.

Unison's submission on the climate change bill will also call for public bodies to be required to negotiate a "workplace environmental agreement" with their recognised trade unions. This would aim to save energy, cut waste and reduce water use in offices.

"We envisage the bill giving powers to Scottish ministers to issue regulations and guidance to promote greener workplaces," says the draft submission.

Unison is a member of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, a coalition of more than 30 environment, development, faith and other groups. The coalition's campaign for tougher action to cut the pollution that is disrupting the climate is being backed by the Sunday Herald.

The union's call for a legal duty on public bodies to consider climate change is welcomed by the chairman of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, Mike Robinson. "I sincerely hope that the government will take note of this demand," he says.

The Scottish government pointed out it was already working with the pubic sector. "The views expressed by Unison will be considered alongside other responses to the consultation," said a spokesman.