Trade unionists and campaigners come together to tackle rise of the far right and climate crisis

A coalition of trade unionists, climate justice groups, and grassroots organisers have issued an open letter urging the labour movement to confront the rising threat of climate misinformation and the resurgence of the far right in communities and workplaces across the UK. The coalition is organising the Workers Planet event in Brighton during TUC Congress, a one day festival of class politics, climate justice, and radical solidarity.

An open letter calling out climate misinformation and rise of the far right

The letter warns that far right forces are exploiting economic insecurity and public confusion to pit environmental action against working class interests.

The coalition has published the open letter in the lead-up to Workers Planet. This will be a major fringe event taking place on Sunday 7 September 2025 alongside the TUC Congress in Brighton. Designed to bring together union members, climate activists, and community organisers, the event will feature panels, workshops, and cultural activities focused on climate justice, workers’ rights, and political strategy.

Among the groups supporting the letter and participating in the event are:

• PCS union
• The Bakers Union (BAFWU)
• GMB for a Green New Deal
• Unite Grassroot Climate Justice Caucus
• Equity for a Green New Deal
• Fuel Poverty Action
• GND Rising
• Workers For Energy For All
• ACORN
• Campaign Against Climate Change Trade union Group
• The Worker Climate Project
• The Green Party Trade Union Group
• UNISON National Energy Branch

Workers Planet: Trade unions must lead the fight against the climate crisis

John Whitcher, one of the organisers of the upcoming Workers Planet event said:

The climate crisis is the greatest existential issue that humanity has ever faced.

While too much of our movement looks inwards, ceding ground in much of the nation, the far right has been on the move. As the largest volunteer organisations of working-class people in the country, it is imperative that trade unions lead the fight.

The letter sets out three urgent priorities for trade unions at all levels:

1. Confront climate misinformation head-on. This means equipping reps and members with tools to challenge false narratives.
2. Invest in accessible political education. It urges this especially for younger, precarious, and marginalised workers.
3. Build a visible alternative to the far right. It calls for this to be rooted in solidarity, justice, and climate action.

Organisers of Workers Planet say the open letter is part of a growing movement within the labour movement to reclaim climate justice as a working class issue. Crucially, it aims to challenge regressive narratives, and resist the weaponisation of climate action by the far right.

Featured image supplied