UNIONS and 65 climate groups have joined forces to call for £1.9 billion in emergency funding for North Sea workers ahead of the government’s Spending Review.

The organisations held a rally outside Parliament this morning to demand Chancellor Rachel Reeves provide more support for oil and gas workers so they can make the transition into green jobs.

A group of Labour, SNP and Green Party politicians are also supporting the demand.

Of the £1.9 billion, the coalition says £1.1bn a year should go to developing permanent, local jobs in public and community-owned manufacturing.

It added that a further £440 million of investment each year should go to ports and £355m per year should go to developing a dedicated training fund for offshore oil and gas workers.

The groups also argued that oil and gas companies consistently fail to invest in renewable energy jobs and retraining for their workers as they prioritise shareholder profits and cut or offshore jobs that should stay in Britain.

It comes as recent job losses at the Scunthorpe steel plant in North Lincolnshire, the Tata steel plant in Port Talbot, Wales, and the Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland have spurred a national debate about a just transition for workforces and communities in high-emitting sectors.

Labour MP for Alloa & Grangemouth Brian Leishman warned there was “no credible industrial strategy” in Scotland because Grangemouth “closed before the new energy industries of the future were ready — that is certainly no ’just transition’.”

Greenpeace UK climate team leader Mel Evans said: “It’s vital that we don’t leave oil and gas workers’ future in the hands of private companies who put their profits above workers’ security and the climate time and time again.

“That’s why Rachel Reeves must commit to this emergency package of funding to protect workers and their communities.”

Unite the Union campaign team lead Claire Peden said: “The UK government must deliver a real, robust plan that guarantees good, secure jobs for oil and gas workers as part of the energy transition.

“So far, that promise hasn’t materialised, yet 30,000 jobs are at risk by 2030.

“Climate change is an urgent crisis, but it must not be working people who bear the brunt. A just transition needs to be a workers’ transition: no-one must be left behind.”

The coalition also includes RMT and PCS unions as well as 65 climate groups including Platform, Uplift, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Oil Change International and Extinction Rebellion.

The Treasury has been contacted for comment.