Just to bring you up to date on some of the Climate Change actions this week including , via a range of links that will add to what you have been hearing in the general media .
• The web link to the Copenhagen summit, (includes web cam) - http://en.cop15.dk/ - when viewing please note the hours differences .
• A list of issues and programs that help show a small number of examples of how the Global Union movement has been able to play a role are listed at the base of this page
• Links for Climate Changes Discussions in Copenhagen at http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=3015 or from the main page at http://en.cop15.dk/ – these links can also be located at ‘Google’ search .
Over the last two weeks the Trade Union Movement has argued at a Global Level for Governments to take climate changing actions to save the planet and deliver on new green jobs, as well as our public services and those in our industries all ready working in ways to turn climate change around – including those working in classifications like ASU members in waste recycling, local government, water services, electricity management , public transport and more .
The union movement has worked collectively across the globe , under the banner of the ITUC (the international arm for all peak National Union bodies)and the industry union bodies like the public services international (PSI ) or the international transport workers federation (ITF) , and union network international (UNI)
The international union groupings of PSI , ITF and UNI , have worked with other international union groups like the wood workers, building and construction and the metal workers international associations to have a Union voice and a voice for our industries. One of the tools used by the international union movement has been the ASU QPS Climate Change discussion paper and the ASU Quality Public Services Campaign http://www.asu.asn.au/media/climate-change-paper18nov08.pdf .
Australian Labor Party climate Change Policy - “Leadership on sustainability Part 75
Labor notes that the whole community should play a role in climate change actions. This includes the role played by those in our community that deliver quality public services, like local government, water supply, electricity and public transport. These industries take actions every day in a range of services from recycling, water harvesting, demand management and much more. This is a significant role in making our community environmentally sustainable and fighting climate change. Labor recognises the role played by the broad community and asks the Government to continue to implement a broad range of climate change actions.”
ALP policy http://www.alp.org.au/download/now/national_platform_chapter_9.pdf
ASU discussion paper is located at http://www.asu.asn.au/media/climate-change-paper18nov08.pdf
As an example of some of the negotiations and the relevance to our industries the following three points as a union response to the text on Financing and Technology Transfer and the Just Transition Clauses are just some of the many examples where the agreements will cover our Unions membership areas - (nb the agreement/s reached under the climate change banner will be binding on govts just like trade agreements, this can include private public partnerships and private sector actions) -
Financing Funding should not only be additional, but also predictable, so as to match the long term infrastructure investment needs. It follows that the main source of funding shall be neither auctioning of the carbon allowances (which prices are volatile) nor the private market. Public funding should be the main source, notably through new sources of taxation within a broad reform of the fiscal system.
- on the FINANCIAL text, I copied below the three paragraphs I find particularly relevant. I think we should support the first two para but OPPOSE the last one. This para provides good reasons to developed countries not to commit to ambitious public funding and to rely on the private sector financing.
Para 13. Scaled up, predictable, new and additional, and adequate funding shall be provided to developing country Parties, in accordance with art 4, paragraphs 3,4,5,8 and 9, of the Convention, to enable and support enhanced action on mitigation, including REDD plus, adaptation, technology development and transfer and capacity building, for enhanced implementation of the Convention after 2012.
Para 14. The main source of funding through the financial mechanism shall be new and additional financial resources provided by developed country parties; Para 15. Private sector financing and other innovative sources of funding shall supplement the provision of public financial resources.
The TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER chapter is important as it includes provisions on to whom the money should go. From a PSI perspective, we cannot accept the reference to public-private partnerships that currently lie in the draft text (page 3 for instance).
Vocational training - the Shared vision: a new text has been released and IT CONTAINS THE JUST TRANSITION SENTENCE
- Economic and social consequences of response measures : most of the brackets in the preamble have been removed. (this means they are now agreed)
The paragraph which mentions JUST TRANSITION IS MAINTAINED.
- Technology transfer : two unresolved issues are : finance and Intellectual property rights (IPR). An agreement has been reached on the establishment of a technology mechanism composed of an Executive committee and a climate technology center and network. The reference to VOCATIONAL TRAINING is maintained.
Finally, TRADE MEASURES was highlighted as a controversial issue in a number of sessions, an issue that will need to be solved at the political level. Another issues that will need to be passed on to ministers are: Finance, Emissions reduction goals and commitments by developed countries and NAMAs by developing countries.
Other examples of the privateers actions, intentions and opportunities can be seen in the following links supported by the ADB -
Dialogue on Responding to Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific http://www.adb. org/Documents/ Events/2009/ More information at http://www.adb. org/Documents/ Events/2009/ Removing- Barriers- Climate-Change/ default.asp The program is attached, or you can also check at http://www.adb. org/Documents/ Events/2009/ Removing- Barriers- Climate-Change/ program.asp
Private Sector Solutions to Climate Change Challenges in Asia and the Pacific, general information at http://www.adb. org/Documents/ Events/2009/ Private-Sector- Solutions- Climate-Change/ default.asp
Other links of intertst include -
• ILO - green jobs and climate change strategies in the forestry and wood sectors http://media.stakeholderforum.org/fileadmin/files/Outreach_issues_2009/091215-outreach-color.pdf
• High level conference on low carbon industrial policies http://www.industrialpolicy.eu/COP15/ETUC-event
• Chair of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Kerry,http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=3029
PSI Asia Pacific - Utilities - Electricity - Water & Local Government Network Bulletin Blog - The below items are published as an internal PSI Bulletin monthly or you can follow by each post by e-mail.
