>> Introduction

ITUC CSI IGB

Trade unionsand climate change

Equity,justice & solidarityin the fight against

climate change

“At first I thought I was fighting to save rubber trees, then Ithought I was fighting to save the Amazon rainforest. Now I

realize I am fighting for humanity”.

Chico Mendes (December 15, 1944 – December 22, 1988),trade unionist; in the 20th Anniversary of his assassination.

The world is facing the triple crises ofaccelerating climate change, financial disorderand food & oil price instability. In all these cases,the roots are the same: a lack of commitment toregulation, a push towards “small government”and free market economics, and an internationalsystem that has underperformed, sometimesvery badly, in exercising governance ofglobalisation. All these crises punish the worse-off and most vulnerable, those who did little tocause the problems.

This is no time for governments to back away frombold actions to tackle global warming. This is atime to take the opportunity for repairing andrebuilding national economies on the basis of

social and environmentally-responsible invest-ment, which will create jobs, stimulate economicgrowth, and reduce GHG emissions.

The consequences of an uncontrolled proliferationof GHG emissions are now sufficiently obvious andpredictable. It has become imperative to reach astrong international agreement: an agreement inwhich the needs and aspirations of all are takeninto account; an agreement that will effectivelyshape the blueprint for the type of society we wishto build and pass on to future generations.

For trade unionists, a viable solution to climatechange will not be found unless we also combatsocial injustice; it requires a more socially,

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* Trade Union Statement to COP14, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – UNFCCC, Poznan, Poland(1-12 December, 2008).

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economically and environmentally sustainablesociety. Without a strong and innovative multilateralsolution, the main victims of climate change will bethe workers, in particular in developing countries,whose sole responsibility will be to have been bornpoor in the most fragile parts of the planet; equity,human and workers’ rights, and environmentalaction must all be tackled in order to resolve thissituation.

Climate change raises important questions aboutsocial justice, equity and human rights acrosscountries and generations. It is now time foraction. Trade unions engage in current climatenegotiations with a message of commitment,solidarity and action.

Commitment - as representative trade unionsfrom the North & South, we ask all governments torespect the Convention’s mandate and, in priority,those in developed countries and majoreconomies in the developing world to firmlycommit to emission reductions, on the basis oftheir different responsibilities and respectivecapabilities. No longer can emission reductions beconsidered a barrier for growth. No longer can theybe accused of hindering employment creation. Nolonger can they be postponed.

Solidarity - trade unions and their members arewell aware of the facts that transitions are by nomeans easy processes, that moving towards a lowcarbon economy so as to develop in anenvironmentally responsible manner representsan arduous task and that the poorest must notend up paying the highest price. We thereforestress the need to support and assist those whoare the most vulnerable during the transitionprocess. Climate justice, the defence of rights andsocial protection are crucial to a fair andsustainable transition.

Action - as representatives of millions of workers,we are part of the solution. Fully aware of ourresponsibilities regarding workers and futuregenerations, we have undertaken actions with adual commitment towards the environment andsociety. At every level – international, regional,national, sector and workplace – trade unionshave begun to advance towards a fairer,environmentally responsible society that respectshuman and labour rights.

As trade unions, we believe these negotiationsshould initiate a new and more ambitious processof social change, where we will not only discussthe urgently needed emission reductions but alsoconsider the means for changing the way weproduce, consume and interact, always on thebasis of solidarity and mutual respect. It is withinsociety and the workplace that genuinetransformations must be operated. Governmentsand other actors committed to this struggle cancount on workers and their trade unions as driversfor social and environmental change.

>> An ambitious long-termmultilateral framework -Our shared vision

Climate change is a global challenge whichrequires multilateral negotiations, commitmentsand actions. And hopes of achieving a fairoutcome when it comes to climate protectionlargely rest on the success of the United NationsFramework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) negotiations. Trade unions will do theirutmost to make these negotiations a realopportunity to contribute effectively to theprotection of our planet, which implies securing anequitable and socially-engaged agreement.

We reaffirm the commitment of the global tradeunion movement to achieving an agreement thatwill put the world on a path towards limiting theglobal temperature rise to no more than 2°C.Consistent with this fundamental objective, tradeunions urge Governments at the UNFCCC inPoznan to follow the IPCC scenario for reducingglobal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 85%lower than their 1990 levels by the year 2050.

Such an ambitious but necessary objectiverequires far-reaching changes in our productionand consumption patterns and will not beachieved if short and medium term targets are notsettled during current negotiations. In that regard,trade unions from developed and developingcountries agree on the need for:

Developed countries to take the lead inemission reductions. Resources, technologicalcapacities and historic responsibilities providethe basis for our position. The IPCC concludes

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that a reduction by them of at least 25%-40% by2020 below 1990 levels is necessary in orderto attain the global 85% reduction by 2050. TheITUC recognises the urgency of taking actionand supports these 2050 and 2020 targets. Italso recognises that specific circumstances indeveloped countries may dictate targets that aremore or less ambitious, provided that the netemission reduction of Annex I countries is withinthe targets advocated by the IPCC. The outcomeof the European Union’s commitment for a 30%cut (1990 basis) in CO2 by 2020 (subject to anew international treaty) can be a valuablebenchmark for developed countries in makingcommitments.

Developing countries to achieve GHG emissionreduction, stabilisation or controlled increases.The principle of common but differentiatedresponsibilities and respective capabilities mustserve as a framework for action, not inaction.While acknowledging their need to make thetransition to low-carbon development in a way

consistent with their capabilities, nonethelessmajor emitters in developing countries andcountries that have surpassed a certaindevelopment threshold have to participate througha range of policies including targets on renewableenergy, energy efficiency, clean coal technologyand avoided deforestation, among others, whileproviding access to decent livelihoods for theircitizens. These need to be accompanied by clearobjectives and mechanisms in order for developedcountries to finance and enhance technologydevelopment and transfer.

Trade unions call for an equitable sharing of theresponsibilities regarding climate protection andemission reductions. There must be provision forthe fair distribution of the cost associated toemission reductions, so that the poorest will notcarry the heaviest burden. At both internationaland national levels, income needs to be taken intoaccount in order to direct emission reductionefforts towards those with the capacity to carryout such measures.

Trade unions together at the international levelTrade unions are undertaking major steps towards the construction of a new unionism, truly international, representativeand ambitious: the voice of workers of today and tomorrow at the international level:

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) was created in 2006. It represents 168 million workers throughits 311 affiliated organisations in 155 countries and territories. Its Work Programme, adopted at its Founding Congress,underlines the need for the international community to implement an overarching strategy for sustainable developmentwith the linkages between labour and environment to be strengthened. See http://www.ituc-csi.org/

The World Day for Decent Work, 7 OCTOBER 2008: For the first time, trade unions mobilised in more than 130countries under the same message, from Fiji across the globe’s time zones to Alaska, demanding a fundamentaltransformation of globalisation, ending the policies of free market neo-liberalism which have brought us to the very edgeof a catastrophic global recession: www.wddw.org

And on climate change…Trade unions created the ITUC Task Force on Climate Change: In June 2007, the ITUC General Council stressed thatit was vital for unions to raise the public profile of climate-related social issues (employment, income, migration,consultation etc). It was also crucial that trade union approaches be reflected within ongoing international negotiations.Therefore, in December 2007 the Council took the decision to establish a Trade Union Task Force. All ITUC regionalbodies are represented by high level trade union members, balanced between developed and developing countries’unions representing the 168,000,000 members of the ITUC. More than 30% of the members and the Chair of the TaskForce are women.

Capacity building: An ambitious programme on Labour and Environment coordinated by the Sustainlabour Foundationprovides for training of trade unionists on climate change through training sessions organised in all three developing regions.These activities will be followed up through more in depth training as well as through the creation of regional experts’networks.

Follow up of the UNfccc Process: In 2007, trade unions created the Ad-Hoc Working Group on Climate Change inorder to provide necessary follow up to UNFCCC negotiations. To date, the working group counts with the activeparticipation of 30 National Centres from 26 countries, 3 Regional ITUC organisations (Africa, Americas and Asia Pacific)and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), 4 International Global Union Federations (Building and Woodworkers’International, International Transport Workers’ Federation, Public Services International, and the International Federationof Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions), 2 International Trade Union bodies (the ITUC and TUAC) and 1UN agency (ILO).

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1 The 2008 G8 Labour Ministers meeting (11-13 May 2008, Niigata, Japan) adopted the “Niigata Global-Balance Principle”, basedon social dialogue and cooperation beginning at the workplace. The Labour Ministers stressed, in particular, the importance of as-sessing possible impacts of environmental change and policy responses on labour markets; helping displaced workers make a tran-sition to new jobs; encouraging skills development that responds to environmentally-friendly innovations and industrial changes; andpromoting environmentally-friendly ways of working by adjusting to new patterns of natural resource use and conservation in work-places. They recognised the Green Jobs Initiative supported by the ILO as a potentially valuable strategy, as a coherent, tripartitemeans of addressing future challenges.

>> The great transition: helpingthe most vulnerable bysharing the costs in a fairmanner

The great transformation that is needed to changeour unsustainable, carbon-intensive societiesprovides us with the opportunity to includedemocracy and social justice in environmentaldecision-making processes, by institutionalisingsolidarity and fairness and by relaunching a socialpact - a pact for a global and just transition.

The just transition trade unions are calling for isbased on the promotion of the opportunitiesoffered by the ‘Green Economy’ (the promotion ofgreen & decent jobs and the greening ofworkplaces, based on sustainable industrialdevelopment and an equitable share of the burdenof responsibilities and gains) and on the designand implementation of accompanying measuresfor all the other productive sectors that will have toadapt to the constraints arising from a low carboneconomy. The ‘Green Economy’ must have asocially-fair base: democracy, social partnerparticipation in decision making processes andrespect of human and labour rights form thebaseline conditions in order to ensure a smooth

and effective transition towards a sustainablesociety1.

Yes to low carbon societies, but with a justtransition

Trade unions are aware of the national dimensionof climate change public policy implementation.We therefore stress the need for safeguards at theinternational level to ensure sound policies andpractices on the ground. Democratic decisionmaking and respect for human and labour rightsare essential in order to ensure the fairrepresentation of communities’ and workers’interests at the national level. Trade unionspropose that employment, income, purchasingpower, gender equity and measures to tacklepoverty be placed at the centre of discussions.

Governments must ensure there would be no lossof employment as a result of climate changepolicies. Any new agreement should address:

effects on employment from climate-induced dis-ruptions, i.e. displacement, migrations, unem-ployment in climate-sensitive sectors andclimate refugees,

effects on employment from the implementationof adaptation measures (i.e. investments in in-

Spanish social dialogue: for “smoothing” the transition

Who?Spanish Trade Unions (CCOO & UGT), government and business organisations.

Why?To prevent, avoid or reduce the potentially adverse effects that could result from compliance with the Kyoto Protocol, inparticular those related to competitiveness and employment.

What?Established a platform for tripartite social dialogue on climate change, bringing the three Parties together under anumbrella ‘Dialogue Table’. Six follow-up tables, one for each industrial sector have been organised, along with the firstmeeting for the residential, commercial and transport sector.

An in-depth study on social and economic effects of the National Allocation Plan on employment will be undertaken byCCOO, in the framework of this tripartite social dialogue. More information: bmtome@istas.ccoo.es

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>> A low-carbon economy ANDa fair society: the end of thefalse choice

The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report has drawnattention to the dangerous and irreversibleconsequences of climate change. The effects onthe economy – including on employment - will becatastrophic if ambitious and effective measuresare not taken to reduce GHG emissions. Whileemployment protection has sometimes been cited

as a reason for not engaging in GHG emissionreductions, the available evidence indicates thatclimate change mitigation has positive netemployment effects. Trade unions believe thatclimate change represents a potentially positiveopportunity to create jobs on the basis of asustainable and fair society.

The recently released report by UNEP, ILO, ITUC andIOE, “Green Jobs: towards decent work in asustainable, low-carbon economy”2 provides us forthe first time with a global overview of the

Climate change and employment in Europe:information as a basis for decision-making

Who?The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), SYNDEX, Wuppertal Institute and ISTAS.

Why?To know the potential repercussion on employment of a reduction of 40% in the European Union’s CO2 emissions by 2030as a consequence of climate policies, in particular in four sectors (energy production, energy-intensive industries,transport and building) in 11 EU countries.

What?An ambitious study which provides a clear assessment of the employment effects of climate change policies in theenergy production sector, the risks for job relocation and the means for mitigating this risk, and the potential for jobcreation in the transport, energy-efficiency and building sectors. The study comes to the conclusion that the net resulton employment would be slightly positive. It points to the need for clear and foreseeable climate policies, substantialpublic investment in R&D, renewable and combined heat & power (CHP) energy, public transport systems and renovationof buildings, in addition to well designed economic instruments taking into account the impact on low income householdsand energy intensive industries. The authors call for ‘Employment transition programmes’, with adequate funding andnegotiated with the social partners, in order to anticipate, minimise and mitigate the negative social consequences ofadaptation and mitigation policies for workers. More Information: http://www.etuc.org/a/3676

2 The report defines “Green jobs” as those which reduce the environmental impact of enterprises and economic sectors, ultimatelyto levels that are sustainable. “Green jobs” are those in agriculture, industry, services and administration that contribute to pre-serving or restoring the quality of the environment. Green jobs are found in many sectors of the economy from energy supply to re-cycling and from agriculture and construction to transportation. They help to cut the consumption of energy, raw materials and waterthrough high-efficiency strategies, to de-carbonize the economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to minimise or avoid alto-gether all forms of waste and pollution, and to protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity.

frastructure or transformations in production),and

effects on employment of the impacts associ-ated with mitigation efforts.

The achievement of social justice must beparamount as employment transitions arestudied and anticipated. Accompanyingmeasures (including in priority the promotion ofdecent and green jobs and social protectionsystems) need to be designed to reduce climatedisruption and along with mitigation andadaptation measures. Technology development

and innovation will be key in ensuringcommunities’ resilience and the reduction ofGHG emissions while maintaining jobs in energy-intensive sectors.

It is crucial to institutionalise dialogue, participationand awareness raising. It is now time forgovernments at the UNFCCC to promote democraticdecision making at the national level and to clearlyshow support for accompanying measures toensure that workers and communities are notnegatively affected by a new economy, and toguarantee a fair distribution of the costs that areassociated with this collective effort.

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opportunities and challenges ahead in the pathtowards greener jobs. Despite major gaps in dataavailability, particularly for developing countries,the report findings stress that millions of greenjobs already exist in industrialised countries,emerging economies and developing countries. Itreports more than 2.3 million jobs in therenewable energies sector, around 4 million directgreen jobs based on improving energy efficiencyin buildings solely in the US and the EU, andsubstantial opportunities for green jobs in thetransport sector - for just one example, theexpected creation of 6,100 jobs as aconsequence of the introduction of CompressedNatural Gas (CNG) buses in New Delhi, India.

Green jobs can make a major contribution to cleaneconomic growth, development and povertyreduction. For this to be realised, the quality ofthese green jobs needs to be improved. Many ofthem, such as those in recycling, construction orbiofuels for example are informal and withoutproper management, stand to cause highlycontrary effects. As an example, serious labourand human rights violations have been recordedin relation to feedstock production for biofuels.

Trade unions remain committed to fosteringdecent working and living conditions for workers,be it in old or new sectors. Poverty is in manycases at the roots of environmental degradation.Stable and decent wages can ensure proper livingconditions and contribute to the protection ofnatural resources.

Trade unions will work towards the transformationof all jobs into environmentally-friendly andsocially-decent jobs. Green jobs are a first steptowards this transformation.

>> Anticipate, prevent andaddress the challengesin specific sectors

As the Stern Review reminded us, climate changerepresents the biggest market failure in history.We cannot trust the same failed marketmechanisms to successfully steer out of thiscrisis. The problem has to be solved through

regulation, democratically-decided andimplemented public policies and most importantlypolitical leadership. Former UN Secretary GeneralKofi Annan highlighted what he called a“frightening lack of leadership” when dealing withthe post-2012 scenario. As unions, we call inthis negotiation for such leadership to be shownand to be consolidated.

Trade unions support the need for ambitious andeffective emission reduction targets. However,while agreeing on ambitious targets for mitigationas an important first step, trade unions are awareof the difficulties of transforming such targets intopolicies. We are aware that most nations of theworld have failed – or never attempted - to achievesocial justice in their economic restructuring.

The international community needs to understandthat potentially negative impacts result from theinadequate design of the climate change policyframework. Difficulties arise from a lack ofconsultation, anticipation and protection of thosecommunities that are particularly exposed toemission reduction policies. Nationalimplementation of mitigation and adaptationpolicies requires impact assessment anddemocratic participation to secure social andeconomic benefits.

For this reason, we support the elaboration of aframework that ensures a progressive transition.Such a framework should be based on thefollowing principles:

Consultation: In order to better anticipate effectsand better accompany the transition, governmentshave to institutionalise formal consultationnetworks for information exchange and dialoguewith communities and sectors that will be mostaffected by climate change or by measuresimplemented to deal with it.

Local and regional information-gatheringprocesses should promote social dialogue as wellas consultation involving affected actors for abetter understanding of their needs.

Anticipation: A proper consultation process willnot be sufficient unless it is accompanied byrelevant studies assessing the impacts ofalternative emission reduction scenarios on

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production systems. Systematic country, regionand sector-specific studies on climate changepolicies and employment must be carried out. Ex-ante analysis of policies is key, as this enablestheir redesign and improvement.

Protection: Certain sectors, such as those linkedto fossil fuel energy and other energy intensivesectors will be profoundly transformed by emissionreduction policies. This includes industries suchas steel, iron and aluminium as well as energyintensive services, such as road transport. Whenrisks for certain sectors are unavoidable,measures should be taken in order to protect themost vulnerable in the production chain: theworkers. This protection is clearly defined in theconcept of just transition, which calls for:

Protection through training: Protecting the work-ers requires raising the profile of vocationaltraining in new sectors & re-training for workersin negatively affected sectors. Skills upgradingremains an overlooked policy in all the debatesdealing with economic diversification or tech-nology transfer. Skills shortages could becomea serious bottleneck for mitigation as well ascause lost livelihood for workers in sectors atrisk. Assistance for reintegration into the labourmarket through active labour market policiesmust also be part of this ‘transition package’.The overarching ambition of these policies is toestablish fair and comprehensive social protec-tion systems, adapted to the challenges posedby climate change and its policies.

Protecting the economic life of communities:Trade unions believe that a transition is neededin order to secure the economic livelihoods ofcommunities that depend on sectors which areat risk. This transition needs to include policiesto promote clean and energy-saving technolo-gies, the development of socially responsibleentrepreneurship, creation of alternative in-come-earning opportunities and economic di-versification.

In the long run, only investments, domestic re-search and development, ambitious training poli-cies and economic diversification will effectivelyprotect the communities that currently dependon GHG-intensive production.

Just Transition measures need to be provided forby law before the implementation of emissionreduction mechanisms that could result in joblosses. Otherwise, the possibility for obtainingglobal consensus on these measures risks beingundermined.

Other social and economic impacts

Trade unions highlight the importance of wideningthe discussion and analysing social and economicconsequences of emission reduction withindifferent areas of the economy.

Risks of carbon leakage need to be addressedwith a cautious, prudent and, as far as possible,multilateral approach. Many trade unions stronglysupport border adjustment mechanisms as aresponse to leakage concerns, in light of theactual current and the potential future exposureof industries to international competition fromcountries who fail to enact GHG reducing policies.The potential effects of border adjustmentmechanisms on international trade and developingcountry economies, the consequences of theinternalisation of the real cost of transportinggoods and the effects of a relocation of pollutingindustries to developing countries without strongmitigation regimes all need to be taken intoaccount.

Global sectoral agreements in aviation andtransport as well as in manufacturing industriescould reduce the risks linked with carbon and jobleakage. These agreements could be drivers oftechnological change in both developed anddeveloping countries’ industries. It would beessential, however, to ensure that the emissionsdata collected under global sectoral agreementsare accurate and verifiable.

Further assessments of the effect of mitigationmeasures on poverty (for example, from areduction in subsidies for electricity), incomes,equity and gender equality are required. In thiscontext, trade union, academic and employerexpertise needs to be integrated into the decisionmaking process.

A commitment to eradicating poverty, promotingequality, and realising sustainable developmentwhile reducing emissions necessitates concrete

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steps to incorporate a social dimension during theimplementation phase of the Clean DevelopmentMechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI)and Emissions Trading (ET) projects. This requires,inter alia, real progress on the evaluation of theseprojects, the development of social indicators andother tools that reflect broad societal values andnorms, and the inclusion of social benefits in theassessment of CDM and JI, as well as the creationand improvement of participation and consultationmechanisms in CDM host countries, includingworkers’ involvement. Sustainable developmentcriteria are essential in order to ensure thatprojects secure additionality.

>> Bridging the development gap:climate change adaptationas an opportunity

“We are drifting into a worldof adaptation apartheid”

Desmon Tutu, Former Archbishop of Cape Town

Poor communities in developing and developedcountries are already suffering from the impactsof climate disruption. Yet they are at risk becausethey are poor. The socially-advantaged have afreedom of residence and movement which thesocially disadvantaged do not have. This makesclear that the struggle to adapt to climate changeshould not and cannot be separated from the fightagainst poverty and in favour of a more just andegalitarian society.

As indicated in the 2008 UNDP HumanDevelopment Report, Hurricane Katrina provideda potent reminder of human fragility in the face ofclimate change, especially when impacts interactwith institutionalised forms of inequality. Acrossthe developed world, public concern over exposureto extreme climate risks is mounting. Yet climate-related disasters are often concentrated in poorcountries. On average 262 million people wereannually affected by climate disasters over the2000 to 2004 period - over 98% of them lived inthe developing world.

As trade unions we have never accepted theviolation of human rights which consists in

allowing fellow human beings to die of hunger or ofpreventable diseases. We will not accept now thathuman beings die because of climate change.

Climate change feeds into the vicious circle ofpoverty by adding more barriers to development.Environmental events generate huge amounts ofstress for poor households: droughts, resourcedepletion and floods, among others, are either atthe source of or reinforce their already criticalsocial and economic situations (for exampleresource depletion aggravates unemployment,which reinforces migration subsequentlycontributing to a loss of human resources andendangering rural economies).

Therefore the poverty challenge and the climatechallenge have to be tackled in a mutuallyreinforcing manner. All governments, in the Northand the South, have a key role to play in providingthe political will and the necessary coherence inthis fight. Many developed countries are investingheavily in the development of climate defenceinfrastructures. Developing countries face farmore severe adaptation challenges. Thosechallenges have to be met by governmentsoperating under severe financing constraints andby poor people themselves.

Trade unions believe that a new socially fair andclimate-friendly development path needs toemerge. Developing countries need tosimultaneously change their production modelsand supply adequate access to energy. Synergiesbetween decent work creation and adaptationpolicies must be explored, since the provision of asustainable income reduces vulnerability.

Quality public services and strong public sectorleadership at all levels of government must be atthe heart of the global response to climatechange. Public-public partnerships for technologytransfer in the utilities sector, for example, shouldbe encouraged and financially supported. Publicprocurement contracts should includespecifications for labour and environmentalsustainability standards.

Trade unions highlight the role of public services inareas such as education, public health andtransportation, and access to energy to coverbasic needs, among others. All these are

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essential in order to contribute to fair and efficientclimate policies (efficient climate policies willrequire a highly qualified work force, researchers,and engineers; a reduction in GHG emissions willbe facilitated by more public transport which at thesame time would increase access to mobility forthe poor).

Furthermore, trade unions believe climate justicecannot be achieved without gender justice.Principles of gender equity must be adopted at allstages of the international climate changestrategy, from research to analysis to the designand implementation of mitigation and adaptationstrategies, because climate change is not genderneutral. Women are generally more vulnerableand represent the majority of the world's poor andpowerless. Their livelihoods are more dependenton natural resources that are being threatened byclimate change. The 2004 Asian Tsunami killedfour times as many females as men, for example.Women are a potential source of innovativeadaptation strategies and must be empowered toplay a central role at all decision making levels onclimate change, including within unions such asthose in the utilities sector.

Poverty reduction policies require radicalresponses to climate change. In order for this tohappen, we believe that a holistic approach shouldbe developed, including:

Sustainable service and infrastructure develop-ment: the provision of public responses and in-vestments will require greater foresight andplanning. Quality public services and strong pub-lic sector leadership must be at the heart of theglobal response to climate change. Investmentsin water, health, transportation, housing andother essential services and infrastructuresshould contribute to reversing the destructivetrend of privatisation and deregulation, andshould be democratically accountable. Partner-ships for technology transfer in the utilities sec-tor, for example, should be encouraged andfinancially backed.

Capacity building: workers and communitiesneed to be informed, involved and trained to re-spond to the challenges they will face in theirworkplaces and in their homes. Lack of infor-mation is a serious barrier to adaptation. Union

structures have the capacity to disseminate pre-cautionary measures, disaster prevention & re-sponse strategies as well as to initiate thedebates about a long-term economic adaptationof zones at risk because of climate change.

Social protection, including insurance: Socialprotection is the tool that our world has devel-oped to reduce vulnerability. As climate changeincreases the uncertainties about meeting peo-ple’s needs, governments must implement pro-tective social measures, including access todecent housing, food security, access to safedrinking water and health services and minimumincome, as well as ensuring the traditional rightto social security. Trade unions consider that cli-mate-related risks require improved andadapted insurance and re-insurance mecha-nisms for poor households. Particular attentionshould be given to implementing public-man-aged schemes and to reviving cooperative andmutualist as complementary ones. Private in-surances should be regulated along similar ob-jectives.

Trade unions call for coherent nationaland regional strategies on climate-relatedissuesEnergy strategies, water, biodiversity and migrationprovide some examples of problems that need tobe tackled at both the national and regional level,particularly in the many parts of the world wherethere is substantial regional or sub-regionalintegration of markets and policies (like in the EUor the Mercosur). In such regions, mainstreamingclimate protection into regional policies is animperative if they are to be sustainable.

Energy strategies: Energy security is today a mainconcern for all countries. The achievement of suchan objective, in particular for smaller economies,is difficult. While regional approaches to energystrategies have emerged, in most countriesclimate change has not yet been mainstreamed,nor have emissions limitations, particularly indeveloping contexts. In addition to mainstreamingclimate change, regional energy strategies mustpromote a sustainable energy mix with rapidlyincreasing shares of renewable energies, higherenergy efficiency and conservation,decentralization of production, and an equitable

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access to energy services, as well as solutions forsustainable transport and housing.

Water: The impacts of climate change in wateravailability and quality, as well as on the increasedfrequency and intensity of droughts and floods willintensify current water management problems indeveloping countries and in specific sectors.Hydrological systems with poor or no watermanagement are the most vulnerable to theadverse impacts of climate change. The need toensure full access to water and sanitation will alsorequire huge investments. Action at the regionallevel must guarantee access to clean water for thewhole population, and the shared management ofhydrological systems and transboundarygroundwater.

Migration: Climate change, because of its effectson communities already under pressureendangers peoples’ livelihoods. This reinforcescurrent internal migration trends (from countrysideto urban centres) as well as internationalmigration. Climate change thus also puts pressureon urban infrastructures and urban dwellers. Manyimportant cities in the world, in particular indeveloping countries are coastal and are thereforevulnerable to rising sea levels and to extremeweather events, which stand to cause or aggravateregional migration trends. This is the reasonnational and regional policies must be designedand developed to deal with disaster relief as muchas with migration and resettlement of displacedcommunities. At the international level, adequatealternatives in full respect of migrants’ humanrights are required in place of the current absenceof sustainable policies for migration.

Biodiversity: Many species are at risk because ofclimate change and changes in land use. Thedestruction of biodiversity, in particular of originalforests, reduces carbon sinks and also impactslower income households, who depend on wildlifefor their livelihoods. As the wild environment doesnot follow political boundaries, its conservationneeds regional and international action.

Climate, adaptation & the world of work

Adaptation to climate change offers theopportunity to engage on new paths of economicdevelopment: a development which respectsworkers’ rights and the environment. Regional,sectoral and local research is needed to betterunderstand the effects that adaptation measureswill have on the economy, poverty reduction andemployment. Nevertheless, we can safely say thatadaptation strategies - if they improve societies’and economies’ capacity to react and adapt toclimate change - do not necessarily have anegative impact on livelihoods or employment.

While climate change will negatively affectagriculture, livestock management, forestry,ecosystems, health and human settlements,particularly in developing countries, accompanyingadaptation measures would yield positive effectson employment, or at least limit the severity of thenegative impacts.

Adaptation could also provide positiveopportunities for sectors at risk and might evenhelp to improve worker education and income. Alladaptation measures should be analysed in termsof their impact on employment creation and onpoverty reduction, so that the country only

Protecting workers and their communities,reducing vulnerability to climate change:

Promote decent workDevelop social protection systemsExtend insurance access to low-incomehouseholds

Enhance vocational training strategies toassist the labour force adapt in new sectors

Protecting the economic life ofcommunities, strengthening cleandevelopment:

Design and implement economic diversificationDevelop fair domestic fiscalityStrengthen climate-proof and sustainableinvestmentPromote Green & decent jobsEstablish a Transition Fund, for facilitating the transitionin communities especially at risk.

Protecting workers and vulnerable communities

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chooses those that have positive outcomes inboth areas. Such an approach should beimplemented in all countries since unemploymentreduction is a top priority for fighting poverty.

Adaptation measures vary by sector, but all shouldinclude provisions for workers whose jobs are atrisk.

Adaptation & international solidarity

The world’s poor cannot be left with the choice ofeither trying to make do with the limited resourcesat their disposal or else plunging into even greatermisery. Social justice and respect for human rightsdemand stronger international commitment toadaptation.

It is therefore fundamental to transfer means foradaptation as well as ensuring technologytransfer.

Water, health and infrastructure have beenidentified as the most vulnerable sectors andthose in which investments are urgently needed.Such investments need to take into account otherrealities as well, including the growing incidenceof HIV/AIDS and other diseases which are limitingpoor countries’ ability to properly deliver suchservices. Financial flows should be directedtowards developing countries, in order to helpthem adapt to such consequences of climatechange.

Trade unions call for countries to honour thecommitments that they made at Monterrey andGleneagles for a major increase in developmentaid to assist poor countries and for greateraccountability of governments to properly deliveron their commitments from one year to the next.

>> Investment and technology:making them work for all

In a context of financial instability where mosteconomies are facing grave risks of deeprecession and rising poverty, it is time to seize theopportunity for changing the political andeconomic system that has led to the currentfinancial, social and ecological tragedies. The time

has come for an in-depth reform of theinternational financial system, for innovativeinternational financing instruments, for fair rulesin international trade and for making our societieslow-carbon and climate-resilient.Converting our existing economies intosustainable societies will reduce energydependence, protect natural resources andprovide decent livelihoods to the workers of theworld. Ambitious green investment and financialregulation can be a source of good qualityemployment creation, social cohesion and growth.The means for achieving this transition shouldcome from many sources:

Domestic (including reforms in fiscal systems;and from banks, which should allocate an im-portant part of their resources for credits for en-vironmental and socially friendly-initiatives,among others), and

International (including through international tax-ation of financial transactions, which is techni-cally feasible and would be efficient inmobilising an important amount of funds, andother new forms of financing).

Trade unions call on governments to take aresponsible and forward-looking approach, asthese measures would enable achievement of fairdevelopment in poor countries and could providethe seedbed for clean and healthy economicgrowth in the future.

Financial means for achieving adaptationand mitigation actions in developed anddeveloping countriesA major effort should be initiated by the developedcountries, in which there exist mechanisms topromote research, innovation and investment.Governments and private enterprises should re-direct financial flows towards these types ofinvestments. Developed countries have to makemajor financial support and green technologiesavailable to developing countries to enable themto contribute to reducing carbon emissions.Attention should be paid to the need for promotinglong-term and non-speculative investment flows.

Trade unions will pay close attention to financialflows for mitigation investments to developing

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countries. While this will be necessary in order toenhance the contribution of developing countries,in particular emerging economies, to the globalemissions reduction effort, significant attentionshould be given simultaneously to meetingadaptation needs and to policies aiming atreducing poverty and vulnerability.

Mitigation and adaptation mechanisms are for theglobal good and must not be based on anapproach of “charity” or “philanthropy” which puts“receiving” countries in a technology & resource-dependent situation vis-à-vis donor countries.

Funds for adaptation must be new and additionalto existing Official Development Aid (ODA)commitments, adequate and predictable. Fundsunder the UNFCCC must be democratically-governed.

Trade unions call on governments at the UNFCCCto establish a “just transition” fund to ensure ajust transition by funding social protection, re-training and economic diversification in the leastdeveloped countries as part of the commitment toadaptation.

Trade unions consider that a fair and redistributivetax system is a principal source of funding foradaptation. Fiscal reorientation needs to takeplace in order to ensure sustainable development,a fairer distribution of wealth and an equitablesocial protection system that includes insuranceand access to healthcare for those most exposedto climate risks as well as compensation,retraining and unemployment benefits for thoseworking in sectors that could be affected byclimate changes or by policies initiated to tackle it.Trade unions consider that revenue neutralityshould be a key objective for tax reforms. Attentionshould be given to pressures on low and middleincome households.

The carbon market, by providing an incentive toinvest in emission reductions policies, should beestablished in such a way as to ensure stable andreliable funding for mitigation and adaptation. Theneed for ensuring a predictable trend for CO2permits and current instabilities in the financialmarkets highlights the importance of avoidingfinancial innovation in this market. The carbonmarket must have transparency with active

government oversight and a rational but forcefulregulatory system.

Technology options for succeeding in thetransition towards a low-carbon world

Many technologies are already available to avoid acarbon intensive future but they need to bedeployed on a wider scale. Their cost, their currentlow levels of deployment, restrictive application ofpatents and lack of political will are responsiblefor the poor diffusion of such technologicalinnovations, and hence, of current increases inGHG emissions.

No real technology transfer has been organiseduntil now despite the mandate of the UNFCCC.Thus, trade unions call for serious discussions tobe initiated on technology transfer that go beyonddeclarations of intent and that pay greaterattention to the realities on the ground. Publicresearch needs to be strengthened, as this is akey component of technology development.Training and education is also crucial for any long-term strategy involving new technologies.Substantial increases in global and nationalfunding for public research and development andtraining are needed, as these have decreased inthe recent years. Attention should be paid to theneed for preventing the exporting of pollutingindustries to the less developed world.

Trade unions raise once again the importance ofdeveloping a sustainable mix of energies, whichwill prioritise highly labour-intensive andenvironmentally friendly renewable energies.

Trade unions call for an intensification of effortswhen dealing with energy saving, energy efficiencyand demand management policies. Thesemeasures, in addition to their already proveneffectiveness for reducing emissions, could createnew jobs by substituting often imported energy bydomestically produced energy-efficient technologiesand services, and by re-spending the energy costssaved as additional available income in other ways.They also reduce the cost of energy for households.Therefore, governments need to move quickly todevote far greater resources to the developmentand deployment of cleaner technologies in areassuch as battery use in transport, solar and windenergy and electrical grid efficiency.

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As the International Energy Agency (IEA) assessesthat most energy will still come from fossil fuels in2050, it is necessary to carry out further researchon transitional technologies, includingtechnologies for using coal in a cleaner manner.This may be done through carbon capture andstorage (CCS). Further resources for research,rapid deployment and demonstration plants areneeded in order to determine whether CCS is cost-effective, energy-efficient andenvironmentally-innocuous, and thus, practical forbroad application and mass deployment in comingdecades. Trade unions call for a participatory andtransparent framework for developing thesetechnologies, which will ensure their social andenvironmental sustainability as well as avoidpromoting further dependence vis à vis developedcountries’ production models.

For technologies to do the quantum leapsnecessary for this transition, an “internationalinnovation agenda” accompanied by the creationof an international body to find and finance sharedtechnological solutions needs to be discussed. Inaddition, global sectoral agreements for sectorssuch as transport could stimulate the adoption ofthe best available technologies and their dynamicdevelopment.

Coherence in international governance

We call on the UN system to develop widercoherence and further linkages between UNConventions. In addition, UNFCCC should workwith civil society to identify impacts of tradepolicies and agreements at the WTO andelsewhere on measures required to combatclimate change (i.e. carbon leakage), and ensurethat where there is a clash between such tradepolicies and the imperative to take action onclimate change, governments at all levels will havethe policy space to prioritise climate change.

For example, international patent protectionregimes such as TRIPS must not be allowed toimpede cooperation to ensure that developingcountries have access to existing and new climatechange-related technologies.

>> Tackling climate changelocally: The challenge ofclimate-friendly & climate-proof workplaces

While the responsibility for implementing GHGemission reductions and adaptation measuresresides at the international and national level, itis in communities and workplaces that the impactof the necessary efforts will be felt. Throughproactive and sustainable policies aiming atguaranteeing decent incomes, governments havethe capacity to protect the poorest.

Through awareness-raising campaigns andpromotion of environmental education, it is at thecommunity level that many opportunities exist tomove towards more sustainable consumption.

But it is naturally within workplaces that this battlewill be fought and won. Since almost three-quarters of global greenhouse gases come frommanufacturing, energy production or supply,transport and construction3, workplace actions willbe crucial in order to initiate and achieve thenecessary process of change within thesesectors. Workplaces need to be at the centre ofmaterial and emission reductions, changes inproduction and sustainable transport.

The role and responsibilities of enterprises needto be transformed to respond to the climatechallenge. Bipartite and tripartite social dialogueand the inclusion of climate-related measures incollective agreements (for example in the area ofskills and training) are key and their role shouldbe highlighted in current negotiating processes.Workers must be directly involved and consultedat every point along the way.

There is a need to promote a preventive approachto climate change in workplaces. Climate changeand vulnerability to extreme weather events mustbe considered in all sectors and a pro-activeadaptation strategy undertaken.

Trade unions have already begun their work. Weare training and engaging workers in order to meet

3 IPCC Assessment Report 4 (2007) Summary for Policymakers, figure SPM3.

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>> Final Remarks

Trade unions highlight the importance of working insolidarity with civil society at all levels. We areundertaking activities in alliance with manyenvironmental, gender and social NGOs, localgovernments, consumer organisations and manyothers. We also note the particular importance ofworking with indigenous leaders and communitiesthat are so often the first to be impacted by climatechange and with the Major Groups of Agenda 21.

In the last decade, trade unions have beeninvolved in all the meetings of the Conference of

the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC. Our work isbased on the belief that a commitment to ensureworkers’ participation in decision-making and toput in place employment transition will realiseworkers’ potential in the struggle against climatechange.

Trade unions will continue to raise awarenessamong workers and their communities on theneed for fair and urgent climate change policies. Achange of paradigm towards an environmental andsocially responsible society needs thecommitment of workers and their organisations.We will work towards this end.

Climate change protection begins from the workplace

Who?Trade unions in different countries (UK, Japan, Spain, Sweden).

Why?Workplaces are at the centre of the combat against climate change.

What?In the UK, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has promoted trade union-led initiatives to cut energy use in 6 demonstrationworkplaces across the UK - Corus steelworks, Friends Provident (financial services), DEFRA (the Government'senvironment Ministry), the TUC's head office, Scottish Power, and the British Museum. All projects promoted unions toundertake staff surveys, ‘green’ open days, training for ‘Union Environmental Reps’, and support for negotiations withmanagement. This resulted in actual energy savings – for example the TUC halved its night-time energy use (and cut wasteto landfill by 40%) and the British Museum reduced its electricity use by 7%.

In Japan, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO) launched its “Eco-Life 21” campaign, which targetsworkplace action and consumer behaviour of workers. It promotes cloth bags to replace plastic bags, setting appropriateindoor temperatures, implementation of ecostyle dress codes (cool biz & warm biz), eco-commuting, green purchasingand Environmental Household Accounting, among other initiatives.

In Barcelona, Spain, unions have created the Reference Centre on mobility, aiming at promoting sustainable mobility,informing workers about facilities for reaching the closest bus station, bicycle or car-sharing opportunities.

In Sweden, trade unions have created the TCO eco-label to deal with what they refer to as the “4E’s”: Ergonomics,Ecology, Energy and Emissions. Today, managed by a special unit, the label reaches over 7000 products cutting more than25 million tons of CO2 emissions per year. The TCO labels are now a visible trade-mark on computer monitors, printers,keyboards, headsets and office furniture as proof that key standards have been verified for the uses of chemicals, energyefficiency, radiation exposures, health and safety and ergonomics.

this challenge. In this regard, respect for tradeunion and other workers’ rights is essential inorder to enhance the potential for workplaceaction and guarantee the effective participation ofthe trade union movement and environmentalprotection. Rights, such as the right for union

representatives to be informed, trained andinvolved in decision making when dealing with theenvironment, as well as whistle-blower protectionand the right to refuse dangerous orenvironmentally or health-damaging work, must beensured.

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Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World

A recently released report, “Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World” coordinatedby the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), theInternational Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), saysefforts to tackle climate change could result in the creation of millions of new "green jobs" in the comingdecades. Green jobs are jobs which contribute to a reduction of the environmental impact of enterprises andeconomic sectors. The report identifies some already existing green jobs:

Energy supply – renewable sources of energy: more than 2.3 million green jobs have been created in recentyears, even though these still only supply 2 per cent of energy. The wind power industry employs some 300,000people, the solar PV sector an estimated 170,000, and the solar thermal industry more than 600,000, manyof the latter in China. Countries with active policies to promote renewable energy have seen employment inthe sector surge. In Germany, the number of such jobs almost quadrupled to 260,000 in less than 10 years.

Energy efficiency, particularly in buildings and construction: this has one of the biggest potentials to reducegreenhouse gas emissions and to create jobs in the process. Some 4 million direct green jobs based onimproving energy efficiency already exist economy-wide in the United States as well as in a number of Europeancountries. Buildings currently account for less than one million of this total but could be a significant sourceof green jobs.

Transportation: efforts are needed to reduce the footprint of cars and boost mass transit. In addition to jobsin the manufacture of fuel efficient and low pollution and emissions cars, there are over 5 million jobs inrailways in China, India and the European Union alone, and millions more in public transport worldwide.

Basic industries and recycling: industrial sectors like iron and steel, aluminum, cement, pulp and paperaccount for a large share of the use of energy and raw materials as well as of emissions of greenhouse gases.A crucial option in order to reduce the impact of these industries is recycling (for example, it is estimated thatmore than 200,000 jobs are involved in secondary steel production worldwide).Agriculture: The report finds that there is considerable potential in agricultural sector as evidenced bysustainable practices on family farms, organic production and successful adaptation to climate change.

Forestry: Given the hope pinned on forest as carbon sinks and considering their role as providers of renewableraw materials, pools of biodiversity, regulators of water flows and other environmental services, it is clear thatgreen jobs in forests will play an increasingly important role in the future.

The report highlights the fact that the incremental but broad shift to the greening of most workplaces can makea very substantial contribution to reducing environmental impacts and to preventing the negative effects ofclimate change. These gains are often quick, low cost and do not imply major investments in new technologies.

The report makes clear that green jobs are not automatically concomitant with decent work. Many currentrecycling jobs for instance recover raw material and thus help to alleviate pressure on natural resources,but the process used is often dirty, dangerous and difficult, causing significant damage to the environmentand to the health of workers and those in their communities. Jobs tend to be precarious and incomes areusually low. If green jobs are to be a bridge towards a truly sustainable future, this needs to change.

Skills gaps and shortages in qualified labour are fast becoming binding constraints for the greening ofeconomies in industrial and developing countries alike. Closing the current skills gap and anticipating futureneeds are essential for a broad and rapid transition towards a green and low carbon economy.

Assessments and monitoring of the evolution of green jobs and of the transformation and shifts in the labormarket should include indirectly induced employment as well as displacement effects.

In order to meet the environmental and social challenges that lie ahead, a broad cross-section of thepopulation should also benefit from green jobs, such as youth, women, farmers, rural populations and slumdwellers. For this potential to be realised, governments have to play a pro-active role in promoting green jobstrategies.