‘Trade unions and climate change – Equity, justice and solidarity in the fight against climate change’, the ITUC statement to the summit, sets out the international trade union movement’s position, emphasising the need for urgent emission reductions in developed countries, finance for developing countries’ adaptation, creation of green and decent jobs and the implementation of “just transition” policies, through investment in new low-carbon technologies to reduce the carbon footprints of existing industries. “Solidarity is definitely a key point in the road to success for this critically-important summit,” said ITUC general secretary Guy Ryder. “The world can simply not wait any longer. Decisions should be made at Copenhagen and action has to start immediately. The human, environmental and economic costs will otherwise be massive.”
Just as fortunes have been allocated to saving major financial institutions from bankruptcy, “the world’s governments should not think twice about allocating large sums of money to saving the planet,” said Ryder. “Trade unions are committed to the fight against global warming, and governments need to recognise the role of trade unions in the UN Climate Convention’s decisions and in the common global effort to avoid catastrophic climate change in the future.”
Global unions warn against a negative climate
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has called again on governments “to take urgent and necessary measures” to deliver a low-carbon future.
‘Trade unions and climate change – Equity, justice and solidarity in the fight against climate change’, the ITUC statement to the summit, sets out the international trade union movement’s position, emphasising the need for urgent emission reductions in developed countries, finance for developing countries’ adaptation, creation of green and decent jobs and the implementation of “just transition” policies, through investment in new low-carbon technologies to reduce the carbon footprints of existing industries.
“Solidarity is definitely a key point in the road to success for this critically-important summit,” said ITUC general secretary Guy Ryder. “The world can simply not wait any longer. Decisions should be made at Copenhagen and action has to start immediately. The human, environmental and economic costs will otherwise be massive.”
Just as fortunes have been allocated to saving major financial institutions from bankruptcy, “the world’s governments should not think twice about allocating large sums of money to saving the planet,” said Ryder. “Trade unions are committed to the fight against global warming, and governments need to recognise the role of trade unions in the UN Climate Convention’s decisions and in the common global effort to avoid catastrophic climate change in the future.”