Download Climate Change and International Labour Movement's Response

Climate Change and International
Labour Movement's Response
Global Solidarity Champions’ Training Course,
Dublin, Ireland 10 November 2009
www.ituc-csi.org
Climate change negotiations
United Nations
Convention on Climate
Change, 1992
Kyoto Protocol, 1997
5.2% reduction of
GHGs 2008-2012
What will happen after 2012?
The Bali Action Plan decided to initiate
negotiations on the next commitment
period (2012-2020?)
• Shared vision (which GHG reduction target for 2020?)
• Emission reductions: Which commitments for developed countries – A
I? Which actions in developing countries?
• Which actions and what funding for adaptation?
• Finance: what mechanisms, what governance, role of public and
private sector?
• Technology transfer
Key negotiations:
Poznan & Bonn 1 (April): first compilation of proposals
Bonn 2 (June): Chairman’s Negotiating Text + Inputs by governments
Bonn 3 (August): “shrinking exercise”
Bangkok (October): presentation of Parties’ negotiating text
Barcelona (November): last discussions before Copenhagen
Copenhagen, Denmark (7-18 Dec 2009): New Agreement?
www.ituc-csi.org
Climate change negotiations –
what’s at stake?
• Shared vision (Global GHG reduction target for 2050?: Huge
reluctances from developing countries – it shifts the burden of
emission reduction)
• Common but differentiated responsibilities & Respective capabilities/
Right to development? Sustainable development?/ Ecological debt?
Equity?
• Formal debates seem far from agreement (Japan, US, Australia far
from targets needed; Russia not willing to join any target; EU
ambitious, but not enough; Emerging economies reluctant to
announce objectives without financial commitments from Developed
Countries)
• Differences between discourse and reality: emerging economies are
already adopting measures which could lead to commitments under
the UNFCCC, countries are ready to accept a lower-than-necessary
commitment from the US in a first period, “silent” countries can be
more dangerous for the agreement – Russia, OPEC)
• A just transition framework?
www.ituc-csi.org
Climate change negotiations –
what’s at stake?
• Mitigation (emission reductions): what targets for developed
countries? Mid-term targets (2020)? “comparability of efforts”
• Which actions for developing countries? All equal? Deforestation?
• Adaptation: Role of the State? Role of the private sector? Who
pays? Which actions? Climate debt? Funding for adaptation?
• Finance: how to generate funding? what mechanisms, what
governance? Role of IFIs? Carbon market or carbon tax?
• Technology transfer: IPRs, appropriate technology, who develops
what and where?
Other issues: competitiveness, trade-related aspects (not addressed
in the UNFCCC)
www.ituc-csi.org
Trade unions at the UNFCCC
• A common and ambitious position on the need for tackling
climate change, with developed countries taking the lead,
integrated in key union statements (I.e. G20) CRUCIAL for our
LEGITIMACY IN THE PROCESS
• Social issues and employment start to be better understood in
the Convention, but far from being integrated.
• Concrete proposals in the negotiation:
Just Transition Framework
Green Jobs/ “Opportunities” agenda
Re-skilling/ training
Social Protection – including the role of public services
Social Dialogue & role of trade unions
www.ituc-csi.org
Trade Unions & Climate Change:
building a common position
•A global position has its challenges: national specificities,
different positions, different timing in awareness about the
problem.
• 2008-09 have been the years of the confirmation on what
regards ITUC commitment to climate change (Task Force, GC, GS
attendance to COP).
• Trade unions have been officially recognised as constituencies to
the UNFCCC process. However, we still have to raise awareness
among governments & other relevant actors on the linkages
between climate change and union responsibilities & work.
• In these negotiations, we are key for raising the visibility for
issues such as solidarity & social justice as essential principles to
solve in a sustainable manner the causes of climate change.
www.ituc-csi.org
A union agenda on climate change
Union’s priorities in the climate change agenda are organised
around four issues:
1. The importance of a solid and ambitious trade union position on
climate change and the need for action
2. The need to understand, foster opportunities and avoid
negative impacts in the world of work, policies regrouped under
the concept of ‘Just Transition’
3. The importance of reinforcing & formalising dialogue with civil
society, in particular with workers & their unions.
4. Enhance the potential of workplace action in reducing
emissions.
www.ituc-csi.org
An ambitious basis for our work
A common and ambitious position on the need for tackling
climate change, with developed countries taking the lead,
integrated in key union statements (i.e. G20) CRUCIAL for
our LEGITIMACY IN THE PROCESS
Objective of the agreement: no more than 2°C /
Emission reductions / Criteria for the burden share of
emissions.
Employment and just transition
Finance (200 billion EUR over the 2013-2017 period)
Adaptation & resilience
www.ituc-csi.org
A just transition= a fair pathway to
protect the climate
Ambitious action is fundamental for the future & for social and
development goals to be achieved. These actions must be
fairly shared and distributed between and within countries.
A just transition towards a low carbon economy is possible,
and can make climate action a driver for sustainable economic
growth and social progress.
We need to transform the economy; we therefore ask for a
process aimed at transforming every economic sector into a
sustainable one.
www.ituc-csi.org
Just Transition –
A union proposal
1.Make green opportunities real
2.Research
3.Dialogue
4.Training
5.Social protection
6.Regional/local planning
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The road to Copenhagen
(and beyond)
www.ituc-csi.org
Barcelona, Spain (2-6 November)
• Last UNFCCC preparatory meeting before Copenhagen. Key
moment for ensuring Just Transition and other union proposals
get visibility. 20 trade unions have already confirmed their
participation.
• 3rd November: ITUC, along with CCOO, UGT and ETUC will
organise a high level event on “Just Transition”, where we will
call on other governments and social groups to endorse the
concept.
• 5th November: the ITUC working group on climate change will
meet to discuss the trade union strategy for the remaining
month before Copenhagen as well as for COP15.
www.ituc-csi.org
Copenhagen: A meeting going far
beyond negotiations
• More than 20,000 people are expected to go to Copenhagen;
at least half of them will be from civil society.
• In addition to the negotiations in the “Bella Center”, several
other fora will be organised:
- A space organised by the City of Copenhagen
- A space organised by the Business community, based on
technological solutions
- the ‘Klima’ Forum, organised by NGOs
- A civil society rally, on the 12th December
In all these, trade unions can play a role.
www.ituc-csi.org
Trade unions at COP15
• More than 180 trade unionists have already
registered to attend the meeting
• Our delegation is coordinated by the ITUC in
close cooperation with LO-Denmark
• Some funding has been secured already for
participation from developing countries’ trade
unions (LO-DK, Sustainlabour, Norwegian trade
unions, TUC)
www.ituc-csi.org
Trade unions at COP15 : WoW
In addition to the negotiations, a major trade union activity has
been planned: The World of Work pavilion (WoW)
• What is it?: A space where trade
unions will present their experiences,
debate and plan with other actors on
climate change. Visits to concrete
“green & decent workplaces” will also
be organised.
• Who? ITUC and LO-Dk will
coordinate this activity. Global Union
Federations and ITUC regional and
national organisations will be invited to
submit concrete proposals for events
•When? 14 to 16 December 2009
•Where? In LO Denmark Building
www.ituc-csi.org
Trade unions at COP15 : WoW
Which organisations will be there?
Regional/International organisations:
BWI, EMCEF, EMF, ETUC, ETUI,
ICEM, IMF, ILO, ITF, ITUC,
ITUC Africa, IUF, PSI, SAMAK,
Sustainlabour, TUCA
Some national organisations:
ACTU, AFL-CIO, Blue Green Alliance, CCOO, CGT France,
CFMEU, CFDT, COSATU, CSC, FGTB, FKTU,FNV, GEFONT,
KCTU, LO-Denmark, NTUC, RENGO, TUC-UK, UMWA
www.ituc-csi.org
Trade unions at COP15 : Other
activities
• ITUC has launched a special website on climate change
(http://climate.ituc-csi.org) which also counts with a private
section, where affiliates can follow reports on the negotiations.
• Official trade union side event in the UNFCCC (17 Dec).
• Reception for the trade union delegation – hosted by LO-DK
and ITUC (16 Dec).
• Trade unions & Climate change – a video by Sustainlabour &
ITUC to be presented in the reception.
• Further work with civil society organisations in the run up
and during Copenhagen. Civil Society « climate change walk »
on the 12th December.
www.ituc-csi.org
Don’t forget the workplaces
Workplaces’ potential:
Energy & resource efficiency
Mobility
New rights
Key for adaptation
www.ituc-csi.org
Questions for discussion
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Why is it relevant to talk about employment in climate
change negotiations?
Unions are pushing for green and decent jobs (that are
environmentally sustainable and of good quality to help build
a low carbon economy). What steps can your national center/
trade union take to ensure a substantial growth of and
equitable access to green and decent jobs for women and
men?
Where do you see the potential of Green Jobs?
How can workplaces be ‘greened’?
In what way can European unions assist trade unionists in
developing countries in coping with climate-change related
impacts on livelihoods and workplaces?
Do you think it is important, in order to attain our objectives,
to forge relationships and build alliances with other
organisations and NGOs that share, and are fighting for the
same values?
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Thank You!
Helle Damgaard Nielsen,
Policy Research Officer, ITUC
[email protected]
http://climate.ituc-csi.org
www.ituc-csi.org