The Regional Seminar on Climate Justice: Advancing Workers’ Voices in BWI Industries opened today in Kuala Lumpur at the Seri Pacific Hotel, gathering trade union leaders and climate justice advocates from across the Asia-Pacific region. Organised by Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), the two-day event focused on ensuring that workers’ rights are central to climate action as industries transition to greener economies.
Engrit Liaw, BWI-Malaysia Liaison Council Chair, opened the event by stressing the importance of collective action in confronting the global challenges of climate change. She pointed out how interconnected the issues faced by workers are with broader environmental concerns, urging unions to play a proactive role in shaping climate policies.
Marie Schröter, FES Philippines Country Representative, then pointed out the critical link between climate justice and gender equality. She stressed that “there can be no social justice without climate justice, and no climate justice without gender justice.” Schröter called for the mainstreaming of sustainable climate action, ensuring that gender considerations are applied in all climate policies and plans.
Ambet Yuson, BWI General Secretary, highlighted the immediate threats climate change poses to workers, particularly those in sectors like construction and forestry. “For the working class, climate change is not an abstract threat; it is a lived reality. These conditions do not just threaten jobs—they threaten survival,” Yuson stated. He emphasized the urgency of union-led action, warning that “the real threat is inaction.”
In his keynote address, Minister Nik Nazmi bin Nik Ahmad, Malaysia’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, reinforced the need for worker engagement in climate justice discourse, stating, “Too often, the voices of workers are neglected in the global discourse on climate change. We talk about emissions, technology, and policies, but forget that the true engine behind all progress is the workforce.” He warned that the equivalent of 80 million full-time jobs could be lost by 2030 due to extreme heat, calling for a Just Transition that ensures both economic stability and environmental protection.
As the seminar progressed, participants explored strategies to organise workers in green sectors and promote sustainable practices through various panels, setting the stage for crucial conversations on climate justice. The discussions will continue tomorrow, with a focus on how unions can lead in shaping a sustainable and equitable future for workers.
