THE University & College Union (UCU) and the Bakers, Food & Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) have joined calls for a British fossil-fuel non-proliferation treaty.

They join a list of trade unions, including Unison, representing more than 30 million workers globally backing the call for a fossil-fuel treaty: a proposed international agreement aimed at phasing out fossil fuels.

It looks to accelerate the transition to renewable energy while ensuring a just transition for workers affected by the change.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “The UCU is proud to have endorsed the call for a fossil-fuel treaty. As the UK’s largest union for university and college staff, we know that we should listen to the climate scientists — many of whom are our members — who tell us we face catastrophic climate change if we do not have a fast and fair plan to phase out fossil fuels.”

BFAWU general secretary Sarah Woolley said: “The BFAWU recognises that climate change is a trade union issue and that workers need to be at the forefront of solutions required to transition to a fully decarbonised economy, not left behind.

“Our members bake food in industrial ovens powered by an energy system that is still powered by fossil fuels, and that has to change.”

UK adviser to the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative Ken Penton said: “BFAWU and UCU members know that climate change is happening now and will have a devastating impact on working people and the communities they live in around the world if we don’t speed up the move away from climate change-causing coal, oil and gas.”

The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero was contacted for comment.