“Science is telling us that all sectors of the economy
will be heavily impacted by climate change if we do not succeed to maintain
temperature increase below 2°C”, said Sharan Burrow, the general secretary of
the International Trade Union Confederation. “Governments have a small window
of opportunity to show they have a vision for workers and their children… the
time for transitioning peacefully and fairly to sustainability is starting to
run out…” she added.
Burrow criticised the Polish government, which is hosting
the talks, for failing to show leadership towards cutting carbon emissions, and
organising a “coal and climate” conference at the beginning of the UN talks.
“Poland is not only dragging its feet on climate.
It seems to be actively trying to roll back any progress and align itself
with the powerful “carbon club” of climate change deniers at the expense clean
jobs and the very future of the planet,” she said.
The UN negotiations open in a context of growing
inequality, unemployment and social unrest across the world. Leadership has
never been more needed to show there is an alternative economic model, one
which can provide a dignified life to all within our Planet’s carrying
capacity.
“We want the jobs of the future to be created now,
through investing in renewable energies, public transit, building retrofits,
for just mentioning a few”, said Burrow. “The measures for transforming all
sectors into greener ones, for providing workers alternative, good quality jobs
and supporting communities for diversifying their economies must be taken now.
Unless governments send a clear signal in the negotiations that the climate way
is THE way for developing their economies, those policies will remain a dream…”
The Warsaw climate conference is expected to give clarity
on when and how governments will submit their emission reduction objectives.
“The labour movement will be present in Poland to demand
climate action, and to ensure governments secure a Just Transition for all
those workers who might need support in the transformation of our economies to
sustainability. Social justice and climate action must always go hand in hand”.
The full trade union contribution for the Climate
conference is available here:
