Trade unions and climate Trade unions and climate changechange

Equity, Solidarity and Justice in the fight against climate change

Why are Trade Unions into Why are Trade Unions into it?it?Life on Earth and consequently the human

civilization, the economy and employment depend on our environment

Action for climate change creates opportunities for the world of work that shouldn’t go wasted

Action for climate change could jeopardize certain jobs and we need to protect the workers before others decide without us

Challenges for the UnionsChallenges for the Unions2008-2009: Efforts have been done to establish the

ITUC position on climate change. In 2010, the 2nd ITUC Congress adopted a position

Trade unions have been officially recognized as constituencies to the UNFCCC process

We need to communicate to other actors:

the linkages between climate change and union responsibilities & work

the essential principles for transition: solidarity and social justice

Impacts & transformations on Impacts & transformations on employmentemployment

Effects on employment from climate-induced disruptions: unemployment in climate-sensitive sectors and climate refugees

effects on employment from the implementation of adaptation measures (e.g. investments in infrastructure or transformations in production), and

effects on employment of the impacts associated with mitigation efforts

Unions’ prioritiesUnions’ prioritiesThe need for an ambitious climate

change agreement at the COP16

The need to understand and address the impacts & transformations of the world of work through accompanying measures, grouped under the concept of ‘Just Transition’

Enhance the potential of workplace action in reducing emissions

An ambitious climate change An ambitious climate change agreementagreement

No more than 2°C

25-40% emission reductions in developed countries. Rapid move towards a clean development path in developing countries

Just transition & Decent Work as a core principle for the agreement

Sufficient funding for adaptation & resilience of the most vulnerable communities (through public funds and new sources – e.g. FTT)

Just transitionJust transition

Investments, in order to generate employment opportunities and new technologies

Training & Skills Development for workers to fill these new jobs and achieve high efficiency in running the new technologies

Assessment of consequences prior to decisions

Social Protection

Local development policies

Social Dialogue

Workplaces’ potentialWorkplaces’ potentialEnergy & resource efficiency, better

management of waste

Workers’ trainings can be made with the participation of the unions

Mobility of employees

New rights for raising awareness

Unions have workplace and sectoral expertise that should be used in designing and delivering new policies

Thank you!

Georgios.Altintzis@ituc-csi.org

http://www.ituc-csi.org/climate-change-blog.html