ITUC Resolution: Trade unions, climate change and Rio+20 Process
In preparation for the Earth Summit on Rio in 2012.
On 14th - 16th May 2012, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) or 'Rio+20' will take place in Rio de Janeiro. Also referred to as the Rio+20 Earth Summit, due to the initial conference held in Rio in 1992.
ITUC: A strong mobilisation of unions and civil society throughout 2011 will be crucial for pushing governments outside of their 'comfort zones' and raising commitments.
The objectives of the Summit are: to secure renewed political commitment to sustainable development; to assess progress towards internationally agreed goals on sustainable development and to address new and emerging challenges.
The Summit will also focus on two specific themes: a green economy in the context of poverty eradication and sustainable development, and an institutional framework for sustainable development. The full text of Resolution A/RES/64/236, which endorsed the Summit is available here.
ITUC: A union campaign for RIO+20 should be based on demands which could have an immediate impact in the sustainability prospects for our societies. This would include three main proposals which could be agreed at the Summit, addressing the different and interrelated aspects of sustainable development. These are: a universal social protection floor, the creation of a tax on financial transactions, and a decision on a global target of at least a 50% increase in green and decent jobs by 2015. The ITUC will thus need to establish a global green jobs target based on affiliates’ inputs from each country, and working with experts to identify sectors where there is a green job creation potential.
