http://www.world-psi.org/en/cop20-public-option-green-policies As
the UN Climate Change Summit, COP20,
in Lima, Peru, draws to an end, PSI highlights the special role of local and
national government structures in developing, implementing and monitoring green
policies.
“Public subsidies for private profits are
not a solution,” says David Boys, PSI Deputy General Secretary. After
many years of decentralisation, and with the ongoing effects of the financial
and economic crises, many local governments are starved of finance. The
solution is more investment in public provision rather than more private
business”
In particular, PSI believes that renewables must be
part of any strategy for sustainable development.
“Many local authorities are using public
finance and public management to build and operate renewables. It is leading to
the creation of smaller, decentralised energy units.”
PSI
does not support the “Green Economy” as currently defined which is more about
neo-liberal solutions, such as “financialization” and commodification of nature
and further privatisations than about accompanying climate policies and actions
with the promotion of decent work opportunities arising from a low-emission
society.
On
COP20, PSI joins the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in its
proposals for a “Just Transition” for workers, contributing to protecting
them in times of hardship, strengthening social dialogue, securing their
rights, growing new sectors and promoting prosperity and sustainable
development.
According
to its 2012 World Congress, PSI is mandated to highlight the continuing
challenge of finding a sustainable response to
environmental degradation, the desperate need to preserve natural resources and
address the question of unemployment. PSI also underlines the fact that the
frightening frequency of natural disasters (that more and more have a man-made
component), is due to the lack of public policy and adequate funding of public
services which assume an important role at each stage – from disaster prevention to emergency
response,
recovery, and restoration. The physical and psychological strain placed on
public services workers who carry out these tasks is immeasurable, and
excessive reduction and privatisation of public services have exacerbated these
issues.
Many
PSI affiliated unions will be joining in the People’s Climate March in Lima on 10th December as
will FENTAP General Secretary, Luis Isarra, recently targeted by the Peruvian government for his relentless activity in the
labour, environmental and water movement.
Download
a PDF of our statement in English
