Apologies first for the lack of NEU flag (which I forgot to pack!)…but look how many of us gathered on trade union strategy day (for the rest of the delegations, “rest day”) at COP 28!

We listened, learnt, discussed, asked things, ate together and chatted in the breaks- this was a really great opportunity and so exciting to meet union counterparts from around the world in solidarity. We also learnt from our union allies- Dr Brian Motherway from the International Energy Agency for example. He is beavering away trying to advise the world’s governments to make sound energy policy that includes workers in discussions around pathways to net zero.

This is at least in part thanks to the determined and passionate Sharan Burrow who it was great to hear from again. Brian would like us all to reach out to give examples of both good and bad practice of transitions in the energy sector to inform the future work of the IEA’s Clean Energy Labour Council.

We also had a heartfelt plea today from Benjamin, trade unionist from the Philippines, on the matter of the exploitation of workers both at home and through migration. “Migration should always be optional” he said; people should not be forced to migrate through poor conditions at home; equally when they arrive in a new host country their employment rights should be equal to other workers so they are protected.

We then heard updates on the progression of the talks during week one, in which the main concerns are the language of “workers” not being included in all the draft texts and “social protection” not being referred to in all of them either. Some countries are reportedly pushing back on the Paris agreement goal of keeping to 1.5 and some Arabic countries are pushing back on references to workers’ rights as part of a just transition.

The workshop I attended on climate finance was fascinating and we focussed quite a bit on the risks of climate finance having the conditionality of privatisation. It was agreed the ITUC needs to remake the case for public finance, which we believe is available but spent elsewhere (eg on war), and that we reject the idea of privatisation as all countries need well-funded public services in order for proper social protection for all.

After a long and interesting day I took a stroll along the “prom” near the Dubai Marina yacht club- and there was the proof of available finance!

Tomorrow is education day at the COP!