Just Transition

We all want progress, but few of us want to change.

We want other people to change their habits, but are reluctant to change our own. The people most likely to be affected by changes to the food system are those working in the food system. Whether they be farmers, workers or businesses. Som things will have to go, and we need to make sure they cause the least disturbance and people affected are supported.

Chapter 12 What We Can do started to spell out some ways forward. These involve greater investment in our rural economies, linking them more directly with our towns and cities. Subsidies could flow in this direction - as they do in the US to promote infrastructure.

We could give CAP subsidies directly to Local Authorities to direct funds to local sourcing, reducing food waste, and improving soil health. They know the local terrain better than national systems. They also remove funds from individuals to invest in the common good.

But changes must involve supporting any people displaced, training up newcomers but most importantly investing in the long term future.

Luckily this is not a new issue..

Identity - Labour

P 219 in Bittersweet Brexit says "So workers in some food industries will feel threatened. At present the whims of markets control what is going to happen. However, we are looking a long way ahead. The changes proposed are not going to happen overnight. For organised workers this is the time to implement ‘just transition’ arrangements. Just transition has been developed by the trade union movement, and endorsed by the ILO ‘to encompass a range of social interventions needed to secure workers’ jobs and livelihoods when economies are shifting to sustainable production, including avoiding climate change and protecting biodiversity’. To which we can add health for all – including those most affected by food-related diseases – the poorest."

International Trade Union Confederation

COP 23: Trade unions expressed satisfaction over the support obtained to couple climate policies with Just Transition strategies, aimed at accompanying workers and communities in the transition towards a low carbon society. “The support for Just Transition policies is now visible and robust among all climate stakeholders: from environmental groups to businesses, from regional governments to national ones. The importance of a social pact as a driver to low carbon economics means we can grow ambition faster, in line with what science tells us” . 2018 is the year where the promises to deliver a Just Transition need to become real for millions of workers and communities. Ahead of COP 24 in Katowice, with a long coal mining history in Poland, unions are calling for a “Katowice plan of action for Just Transition.” Just Transition Centre

Call for Evidence

IPPR "call for evidence seeks out research, experience and proposals to support a just transition to new agricultural and food policies that support healthy and sustainable diets whilst tackling the dual climate and nature crises. Therefore, we are looking to answer questions under two main themes:

1. How to ensure that the transition to a new subsidy system is a just one that supports a truly sustainable agricultural industry.

2. How to support a move to less-carbon intensive, more sustainable and affordable diets. "

Ear1. Change subsidy system to one modelled on US (!!) where bulk of subsidies go to food stamps for poorer people to be able to buy decent food - mainly from local production

2. Produce much more of food we eat in UK, From 75% imported in 80's down to only 50% now, need to rfevert back to 75% in 25 years.

Sugar

Increasingly excess sugar intake is being blamed - at least in part - for the high levels of obesity. There are various schemes, but they all come down to the same - consume less sugar. This is a threat to thise working in the industry. In the UK there is also a battle between home grown beet sugar (British Sugar) and imported can sugar (Tate & Lyle).

There is one thing both can do when levels of sugar consumption drops and that is to burn it. After all many countries (Brazil Cuba) round the world do just that. And there are factories built in this country to do just it. It would provide a 'green' fuel

From Asbestos,

Nuclear, GMB National H&S Officer moved off job for trying to decrease radiation safety standard to 1/10th

Aerospace, Lucas Aerospace Combine Committee

Tobacco,

Climate Change..

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