Climate action – how do I get colleagues involved?

If you want to make a difference on this issue, you’re not alone. According to a recent YouGov survey, 70% of workers said they would like to do more about climate change but felt that they needed more support from their employers.

Getting your workplace greener isn’t just about doing the right thing – there’s plenty in it for workers too.

• Safer jobs If your employer cuts costs by saving energy or reducing waste they’re less likely to need to cut staffing costs. Investing in improvements, such as buildings, equipment or training, also means the employer is making a commitment to the future of the organisation.
• Learning Action and learning at work can encourage greater energy and money savings at home.
• A better workplace Many environmental improvements could lead to a healthier, safer, pleasanter workplace – for example, correct temperatures, improved natural daylight.
• Transport choices Greener transport arrangements could provide more options for workers.

Getting organised

Many of the ideas for action are things you and your co-workers can just start doing, but you’ll need to think of ways to encourage people to do them, such as putting up posters or using an office intranet.

Try and focus on the positive impact people can have, rather than talking about gloomy scenarios – this is more likely to get them to act. League tables and measurements can motivate people. For example you could set a target for cutting energy use, or compare how much different departments have saved or recycled.

The biggest changes will need a commitment from the whole organisation, though. If your workplace has a union, this is a good place to start. If it doesn’t, perhaps a group of staff could get together an informal ‘green group’ to approach the relevant managers with ideas and questions, and to organise activities.

See the TUC handbook Go green at work for tips and ideas on getting organised, including:

• questions to ask management
• arguments you can use
• how to set up a joint worker-management environment committee
• how to encourage colleagues to get involved.