The Working Class Climate Alliance

Over the weekend our #Campaigning and Movement Building Lead Minhaj ul Arifeen spoke at an #ecosocialism conference, about the need to integrate #imagination in our movement building efforts. The panel discussion wasn't recorded, but we've uploaded the transcript for you to read: "Our greatest #strength lies in our capacity for collective imagination. We are not just fighting against #ecological destruction. We are creating new ways of being, knowing, & relating." #climatejustice #climatechange #socialjustice #climate #class #workingclass https://lnkd.in/eNAuEw3i

Global South countries, already bearing the brunt of a warming planet, have called for a fraction of the immense wealth accumulated by those who caused the #climatecrisis. According to the UNFCCC, these countries require between $5 trillion and $6.9 trillion by 2030 to implement their national climate plans. In response, wealthy nations have pledged what Indian negotiator Chandni Raina described as an “abysmally poor” and “paltry sum.” Panama's special representative for #climate change Juan Carlos Monterrey Gómez, summarized the negotiation process as follows: "Developed nations always throw text at us at the last minute, shove it down our throat, and then, for the sake of multilateralism, we always have to accept it, otherwise the climate mechanisms will go into a horrible downward spiral, and no one needs that." At the heart of the disappointment in #COP29 was the agreement to mobilise $300 billion annually for climate action until 2035 – a figure that pales in comparison to the $1.3 trillion needed each year to address the escalating impacts of climate change. “This document is little more than an optical illusion”, India’s delegate Chandni Raina said. Crucially, this money is not a straightforward government provided grant but a fragmented mix of public and private funding, as well as contributions from multilateral banks, including loans and so-called debt swaps. The target also has no specific sub-targets for adaptation or loss and damage. Adding insult to injury, there’s still no agreed definition of ‘climate finance’ under the UNFCCC. Wealthy countries have pushed for a patchwork approach involving loans and private investment, which effectively shifts risks onto poorer nations instead of providing genuine support.       

🌻 There's so much happening in the wellbeing economy movement at the moment. Here are just *some* highlights from the resources and events on our radar. Feel free to add more in the comments! 🎒 Resources to teach doughnut economics in schools from Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL) https://lnkd.in/e-B6tpaz 👩🎓 New course on wellbeing economy policy design from ourselves, Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL) & ZOE Institute for Future-fit Economies https://lnkd.in/e-G7PnmR ✊ Event on resisting the far right in London *tomorrow* from The Working Class Climate Alliance GMB War on Want Unite the Union and others https://lnkd.in/eNDtGkYv 📺 Catch up on our introduction to the wellbeing economy https://lnkd.in/eYGKqqtg 🎧 Amanda Janoo talks all things wellbeing economies on Green Dreamer podcast https://lnkd.in/e_iG349P 🤝🏾 Six part series on solidarity economies in the US from New Economy Coalition & Nonprofit Quarterly https://lnkd.in/gyEwpWWt 🛠️ Online workshop on crafting compelling narratives for diverse coalitions from Future Narratives Lab https://lu.ma/xum2hap6 💡 Intro to Nhakanomics; an Ubuntu-based economic system from Zimbabwe hosted by HOME FOR HUMANITY https://lnkd.in/ef--P6mw 🎯 Launch of new paper on a vision for a new global trade order from European Environmental Bureau with Christian Felber Leida Rijnhout and others https://lnkd.in/e5mdRk2P ✍ Essays from the Edge series from environmental lawyer and advocate, gus speth https://lnkd.in/eNExxry4 🎤 Ted Talk from activist scholar, Lebohang Liepollo Pheko on poverty as an industry we can dismantle https://lnkd.in/exh4CdU4 🎬 New film, Purpose from Martin Oetting documents the establishment of the Wellbeing Economy Governments Partnership with Katherine Trebeck & Lorenzo Fioramonti https://purpose.film/ 📽️ Feature film Finding the Money from Maren Poitras offers a helpful primer on Modern Monetary Theory https://lnkd.in/eDN98Y7Z 🗣️ Upcoming conversation on moral economies with The Garrison Institute https://lnkd.in/g3F_qKzh 🔭 Special Issue of NORRAG features 72 authors from around the globe exploring the role of education in shaping a more just and equitable world https://lnkd.in/exR9vCVd 🙋 Beyond Profit: an online gathering on the purpose economy and integration of purpose into core business strategies with Dr Victoria Hurth & others https://lnkd.in/gWKg8U7m 📒 New guide to help businesses find their purpose from Junxion Strategy https://lnkd.in/e9fRisNb

At #COP29 Azerbaijan plans to advocate for a sixfold increase in global battery storage, the expansion of electric grids, and reductions in methane #emissions. However, Azerbaijan’s COP29 lead and deputy energy minister, Elnur Soltanov, was recently recorded discussing #fossilfuel investments with someone posing as an investor. Additionally, COP29 will scale back on its broader commitment to move away from fossil fuels, a step back from the transition targets set in the 2023 Dubai agreement. The decision to host COP29 in Baku has been met with significant criticism from the outset. Azerbaijan is the world’s 28th largest #oil and #gas producer, with fossil fuels comprising 90% of its exports. The country has also conducted a campaign of ethnic cleansing in Artsakh, forcibly displacing the entire Armenian population from the region. This year’s conference, called the "Finance COP," will focus on increasing #climate funding commitments to support the #energy transitions and climate resilience of poorer countries. Since 2009, the $100 billion annual climate finance target has rarely been met, and much more funding is now necessary, especially to address climate-induced “loss and damage.” A central goal of COP29 is also to increase private sector engagement, with expectations for new partnerships to support #renewable energy initiatives. While last year’s COP established a fund for unavoidable climate damages in vulnerable countries, the initial $700 million commitment is far below projected needs, which are expected to reach $580 billion by 2030. Can we expect positive developments to come out of this year's COP or not - what do you think?

The incoming Trump administration is a stark reminder that the far right are stronger than they've ever been. There is no #climate #justice without social justice - the #environmental movement must throw their support behind fighting fascism. Join us next Friday in #London for a series of panel discussions on what we can do about it. Hosted by the Working Class Climate Alliance, we have invited London-based speakers from the following trade unions, institutions and #grassroots organisations: - GMB Union - War on Want - Unite the Union - Modern Money Lab - Future of Good - A*CR With thanks to SPACE4 and Natasha Natarajan for providing us with the room and support to host the event! Register for tickets here: https://lnkd.in/eNDtGkYv

Join The Working Class Climate Alliance next month in London (November 15th), for a day of participatory panel discussions about the rise of the far right, and the role that grassroots mobilisation plays in overcoming it. The speakers - a mixture of trade unionists and grassroots organisers, will discuss: - The decline of trade unions’ power and the rise of far-right ideologies - A lack of coherent strategies amongst the left, and the exclusion of under-represented voices in movement building - On-the-ground mobilising    What do we mean by participatory panel discussions? For each panel the audience will be invited to not just ask questions, but provide their own commentary and perspectives too - we'd love this to be a day where there's active engagement between the audience and panel speakers. Register for tickets here! https://lnkd.in/eYzNhQQu Paid tickets are available as well as free ones for those who need it - all tickets include lunch. And we have a limited fund thanks to the Raymond Williams Foundation, to pay for travel costs to and from the event (see page listing for full details).

Join us at our next panel discussion over zoom! Register here: https://lnkd.in/eEKFeNx5

The WCCA team and members have co-written a statement about the far-right unrest in the United Kingdom. There can be no place for racism and hatred in society - and this is a stark reminder that the climate movement must be anti-racist, anti-imperialist, and internationalist. The far-right will never divide us, and they will never break our spirits. Read in full here: https://lnkd.in/ekvHyE5T "These events did not emerge spontaneously. They are the result of decades of economic decline and austerity that has devastated our collective living standards and hometowns. The Thatcherite fragmentation of community has turned many of us against each other, in part, through the promotion of hyper-individualistic ideologies, while the mainstreaming of far-right figureheads and discourse in politics and the media has enabled racism to become normalised. They also result from explicit strategies aiming to instil fear and create tensions among white and non-white working-class communities."

The WCCA team and members have co-written a statement about the far-right unrest in the United Kingdom. There can be no place for racism and hatred in society - and this is a stark reminder that the climate movement must be anti-racist, anti-imperialist, and internationalist. The far-right will never divide us, and they will never break our spirits. Read in full here: https://lnkd.in/ekvHyE5T "These events did not emerge spontaneously. They are the result of decades of economic decline and austerity that has devastated our collective living standards and hometowns. The Thatcherite fragmentation of community has turned many of us against each other, in part, through the promotion of hyper-individualistic ideologies, while the mainstreaming of far-right figureheads and discourse in politics and the media has enabled racism to become normalised. They also result from explicit strategies aiming to instil fear and create tensions among white and non-white working-class communities."

ICYMI 👀We discussed what the new government's climate story should be! 📺 Watch back the webinar now: https://lnkd.in/ejJ2MBHh It was a such great interactive and inspiring session. We heard about the need for positive stories that show agency and benefits to local communities, the importance of fairness and diversity, and an interesting use of the word... weird! There was so much more - give it a watch! We heard from: ▶ Paul McNamee, Labour Climate and Environment Forum ▶ Emma Pinchbeck, Energy UK ▶ Sasha Josette, The Working Class Climate Alliance ▶ Anna Markova, Trades Union Congress (The TUC) ▶ James Murray, BusinessGreen ▶ Josh Akapo, Creatives for Climate + archtype ▶ David Powell, Climate Outreach Chaired by our CEO, Rachael Orr! Thanks to our amazing speakers, and to everyone who joined us for such an interesting discussion! Watch now: https://lnkd.in/ejJ2MBHh Read the accompanying guide: https://lnkd.in/dWCpBdyN