Cut emissions and transform jobs
EMF & EMCEF report from the conference in Bad Orb.
The transition to a low-carbon economy must guarantee employment and result in the development of new, decent jobs, say participants at global industrial unions’ meeting on climate change.
- Environmental protection – recognizing that trade unions were the first environmentalists given the strong link between the workplace and the environment
- Sustainable development – without neglecting environmental and economic aspects, the social dimension must also be considered as part of real, lasting solutions
- Sectoral concerns – examining the issue of technology transfer and eliminating carbon leakage
- Sustainable job creation – calling for the greening of skills in all sectors and strong employment creation policies
- Just transition – asserting that the costs and benefits of protecting the environment need to be shared fairly
The delegates from all four organizations welcomed the opportunity to discuss together how to develop a joint proactive stance concerning the social and economic consequences of climate change policies. Overall, there was a consensus that industrial sector unions need to make our voices heard in Copenhagen, in particular regarding the social dimension of sustainable development. There are certainly concerns within specific industries and regions, and we therefore demand strong Just Transition programs and sustainable job creation.
The ICEM, IMF, EMF and EMCEF will be reviewing the discussion document and comments received over the next couple of weeks. Following this review, we will finalize the materials we will bring to COP-15 in Copenhagen to make our points with the country representatives negotiating the new agreement.
Additional information about climate change and the position of industrial workers can be found on the following web links:
www.imfmetal.org/climatechange
http://www.icem.org/en/97-Sustainable-Development-Health-and-Safety
http://www.industrialpolicy.eu/COP15
The presentations of the speakers of each section are available on:
