Brussels, 19
March 2015 (ITUC OnLine): Overwhelming support for government action on
climate change puts leaders in the spotlight to agree a climate deal in
December 2015 that will give the world a fighting chance to limit temperature
rises to 2° C.
The world's
people want their governments to deal with the pollution that is causing
climate change. According to the ITUC Global Poll of the general public in
fourteen countries, 73 per cent of people want governments to do more to limit
pollution causing climate change.
Brazil, South
Africa, Russian, Italy and India topped the leaderboard with 80 per cent or
more of respondents insistent on action by their governments.
“We know the
science is unequivocal. Without urgent and ambitious action, we will face a
temperature rise of 4° C or more this century and irreversible changes in our
climate.
“Economists
have spoken. The financial damage caused by global warming will cost the world
far more than previously estimated,’’ said Sharan Burrow, General Secretary,
ITUC.
Workers and
their unions have a vital role to play to protect jobs in existing workplaces
and industries by demanding industrial transformation, organising new quality
jobs in the emerging green economy and fighting for the Just Transition
measures that ensure we leave no one behind.
In the
months leading up to the Paris Climate summit in December, mobilisations in
hundreds of countries will call on leaders to commit to a strong global
agreement on climate change.
“Climate
change is putting at risks thousands of jobs. There will be no jobs on a dead
planet,” said Ms Burrow.
In the
United States, hurricane Sandy left 150,000 workers displaced and employment
was overall reduced by 11,000 workers in New Jersey alone in 2012.
Typhoon
Hagupit, which hit the Philippines in December 2014, affected around 800,000
workers, with their source of livelihood damaged or displaced overnight.
2015 is an
opportunity for the trade union movement to work on three tracks to secure jobs
and our planet:
-
A strong global agreement on climate change negotiations in Paris which
paves the way for a jobs and investment boom and for preventing climate
catastrophe in our communities
-
National contributions and commitments by governments from which we can
negotiate more ambition
-
Climate action in workplaces and industries with workers and unions
through dialogue, consultation and collective bargaining
“We have a
right to a seat at the table as we act to stabilise the world’s climate by
moving toward a zero carbon emissions future.
“This
transformation must be supported by Just Transition measures. We have played
our role in UN negotiations and fought and won commitments. Now these
commitments must be made real and included in the Paris agreement in December
2015.
“This means that
carbon dependent communities and workers must not be forced to bear the costs
of change. We will fight for
adequate funding of this transition, as well as for the poorest and most
vulnerable of nations to be able to cope with the impacts of climate change,”
said Sharan Burrow.
ENDS
Read the
ITUC Frontlines Briefing, Climate Justice: There are no jobs on a dead planet. http://www.ituc-csi.org/ituc-frontlines-briefing-climate
Show your
support for climate action by signing the petition for climate justice at http://act.equaltimes.org/unions4climate
ITUC
Global Poll 2014, Fieldwork by TNS Opinion
Question: In
your view, should the NATIONALITY government do more, same role as present, or
less in the following area:
Limit pollution causing climate change
Country
|
Do More %
|
Same role
as present %
|
Do Less %
|
Brazil
|
93
|
7
|
|
South
Africa
|
88
|
7
|
5
|
Russia
|
87
|
9
|
4
|
Italy
|
85
|
11
|
4
|
India
|
80
|
6
|
14
|
China
|
74
|
5
|
21
|
Canada
|
73
|
22
|
5
|
Japan
|
73
|
17
|
10
|
Germany
|
70
|
22
|
8
|
Belgium
|
68
|
21
|
11
|
France
|
63
|
27
|
10
|
Australia
|
62
|
26
|
12
|
US
|
60
|
23
|
17
|
UK
|
56
|
33
|
11
|
The
survey of 14 countries was conducted between 8th and 19th
January 2014 and is based on 14,006 responses.
The ITUC represents 176 million workers in 162 countries
and territories and has 328 national affiliates.
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