ituc - ap paper on g d jobs - the way forward for sustainable development

7/31/2019 ITUC - AP Paper on G D Jobs - The Way Forward for Sustainable Development

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ITUC-AP Policy Reference:

Trade Union Strategy on Green Jobs and Decent Work

The Way Forward for Sustainable Development

HIGHLIGHTS

The ITUC-AP 2nd Conference Resolution 11 Tackling Climate Change for Sustainable

Development expressed concern about wanton destruction of environment which affects the

protection of employment.

The Asian and the Pacific region has shown a stark economic development in the pastdecades, despite occasional crisis times. And the region will remain as a center for global

economic growth. However, such growth shall be sustainable, which is composed of three

pillars; economic growth, social development, and environmental protection.

1. Rio+20 and Social Development

The UNCSD (United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development) or the Rio Summits

was first organized in 1992 and the next i.e. Rio+20 will be held in June 2012 with the

objectives to renew political commitments for sustainable development, review past progress

and address new and emerging issues. Importantly, the two themes are a green economy in

the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; and institutional framework

of sustainable development.

The 1992 Summit set Agenda 21, a comprehensive set of policy guidelines for national and

global action which included the role of trade unions to promote sustainable development

through tripartism and promotion of ratification of relevant conventions of ILO and the

enactment of legislation in support of those conventions. Rio+20 should reaffirm the

international recognition of the role of trade unions to advance sustainable development.

Trade unions should be a crucial part of the institutional framework of sustainable

development and poverty eradication.

2. COP Process for Environmental protectionImportant development in the past three decades is that the concept of green economy is

not established: A green economy is an economy where investment in sustainable

production and in cleaner technologies is shaped by key principles of social justice, social

protection and decent work. On the basis of the definition, trade unions should contribute to

build Green Economy into national and regional economic development.

COP 17 in 2011 created the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, an agreement to extend

the Kyoto Protocol commitment from the first period from 2008 to 2012 to a period from 2013

to 2017, a decision on a new treaty to be made by 2015 and it should come into force by

2020 to be applicable to all members of the UNFCCC, including major emission countriessuch as China and the USA, and funding of the Green Climate Fund.


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Promotion of green economy implies industrial adjustment and employment adjustment. For

that purpose, a massive investment should be made, especially in developing countries, and

in the process, green jobs should be at the heart of industrial transformation.

As the 2nd Regional Conference Resolution points out, the sustainability of nuclear energy isin question, and governments should continue to study feasibility of the use of nuclear

energy with eventual phase out, unless safety of nuclear reactors from every aspect is

provided.

3. Trade Union Strategy

The GEI definition of green economy is very much in tune with the ITUC definition

meaning a green economy will result in green and decent jobs. A green and decent

job is thus the way forward for sustainable development. Trade Unions will have to

take up the cudgel to make sure that this is the case. To be able to do this

effectively the following strategies have to be put in place.

o Building and strengthening trade unions at all levels for political

mobilisation;

o Education and awareness of the issues among members and

leadership through education & awareness programmes, campaigns

and other activities;

o Promoting and engaging in collective bargaining and social dialogue;

o Mainstreaming and making the issue of green and decent jobs as theway forward for sustainable development as part of trade union policy

and actions;

o Supporting and promoting ITUC initiatives and campaigns on green

and decent jobs issues such as just transition, innovative funding such

as the financial transaction tax and social protection;

o Lobbying governments and involvement in government actions on

sustainable development;

o Lobbying for and engaging in tripartite consensus to make sustainable

development and green and decent jobs to be at the heart of nationaldevelopment

o Participation at other platforms such as at UNCSD, COP/MOP and civil

society events

This reference paper is prepared on the basis of discussions held at the ITUC AP Regional

Conference on Green Jobs and Decent Work the Way Forward for Sustainable Development held

on 3 4 April 2012 in Singapore and other information available from various sources.For inquiries about contents, kindly contact [email protected].


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1. Green Economy, Green Jobs and Decent Work Definitions

There are various understanding of the terms green economy and green jobs. The

ITUC publication on Growing Green and Decent Jobs defines these terms as

follows.

A green economy is an economy where investment insustainable production and in cleaner technologies is shaped bykey principles of social justice, social protection and decentwork.

A green job reduces the environmental impacts of enterprises andeconomic sectors to sustainable levels, while providing decent work andliving conditions to all those involved in production, and ensuresworkers rights are respected.

Green jobs are not only those traditional jobs people think of as green like making solar panels, manufacturing wind turbines, waterconversation and sustainable forestry. They also include retrofittingrelated jobs in the construction and public transport sectors, and makingenergy efficiency improvements in manufacturing plants, along with

services supporting all industries.

A decent job ensures safe work, fair wages, respect for workers rightsand social protection.

2. UNCSD, UNFCCC, COP/MOP what they are

2.1. United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD)

The UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) or the EarthSummit as is commonly known held its first summit in Rio de Janeiro from 3 14

June 1992. Subsequently RIO+5 was held in 1997 in New York and RIO+10 was

held in Johannesburg in 2002.The next conference known as RIO+20 is scheduled

to be held again in Rio de Janeiro from 20 22 June 2012.

The first Earth Summit adopted among others Agenda 21 which is a blueprint on

economic growth, social equity and environmental protection the three pillars of

sustainable development. It also legitimized the participation of the Major Groups.


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The Major Groups as defined under Agenda 21 are: 1.) Workers and Trade Unions;

2). Business and Industry; 3). Children and Youth; 4.)Farmers; 5.)Women; 6.)

Indigenous People;7.) NGOs; 8.) Local Authorities and 9.) Scientific and

Technological Community.

The objectives of Rio+20 are to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable

development; to assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the

implementation of the outcome of the major summits on sustainable development ;

and to address new and emerging challenges.

The themes for Rio+20 are:

A green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty

eradication;

The institutional framework of sustainable development; and

Other issues such as employment, food and energy will also be discussed.

2.2 The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

At the first Earth Summit 154 countries signed the UN Framework Convention on

Climate Change (UNFCCC), an international treaty on environment. It came into

force on 21 March 1994. At the present moment 194 countries have signed the

Convention. The countries concerned are known as parties.

The parties are divided into Annex I, Annex II and developing countries. Annex I

countries are the industrialized countries and economies in transition. Annex II

countries are the sub-group of Annex I countries, comprising mainly the OECD

countries excluding the economies in transition. The non-Annex I countries are the

developing countries. Developing countries are not required to reduce greenhouse

gas (GHG) emission levels without the funding and technology from developed

countries.

The aim of the UNFCCC is to stabilize GHG concentration in the atmosphere toprevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system on a

voluntary non-binding basis.

The UNFCCC itself does not set mandatory limits on GHG emission and has no

enforcement mechanisms. The UNFCCC instead provides for updates known as

protocols that would set mandatory emission targets. The most well-known is the

Kyoto Protocol. Thus the major difference between the UNFCCC and the protocol is

that the treaty encourages industrialized countries to stabilize GHG emissions while

the protocol commits them to do so.


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2.3 COP/MOP

The UNFCCC meets once a year since 1995 in Conferences of the Parties (COP) to

assess progress made with regard to climate change and to set climate change

related policy. The COP meetings have since 2005 been meeting in conjunction withMeetings of Parties of the Kyoto Protocol (MOP) and parties to the Convention that

are not parties to the Kyoto Protocol can also participate in the Kyoto Protocol

related meetings as observers. Over the years the meetings related to the Kyoto

Protocol have become more significant.

2.3.1 Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol was adopted at COP 3 in 1997 held in Kyoto. The most

significant aspect of the Kyoto Protocol is that it draws up the outline for GHG

emission reduction obligation or commitment for Annex I countries or Annex Bcountries (under the Kyoto Protocol). Under this the Annex B countries that have

signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol agreed to legally binding reductions in GHG of

an average of 6 8% below their 1990 levels between 2008 2012 i.e. the first

emission period. The United States although signed it did not ratify it and rejected it

in 2001. The Kyoto mechanisms on emission trading, clean development mechanism

and joint implementation were also adopted.

It was only in 2005 at COP11/MOP1 held in Montreal that the Kyoto Protocol entered

into force after meeting the necessary requirements. It was decided at this meetingto extend the life of the Kyoto Protocol beyond its 2012 expiration date and

negotiate deeper cuts in greenhouse gas emissions under the Montreal Action Plan.

This was followed up at COP13/MOP3 in Bali in 2007 where the Ad Hoc Working

Group on Long term Cooperative Action under the Convention was set up to

conduct negotiations with the aim of urgently enhancing the implementation of the

Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012. After the great expectations in Bali the three

subsequent COP/MOP meetings were not able to come to an agreement on a post

Kyoto Protocol instrument.

COP 17 held in 2011 in Durban saw agreement on some issues among the Parties.

It was agreed to extend the Kyoto Protocol commitment period from January 2013 to

the end of 2017 and a decision on a new treaty has to be made by 2015. This new

treaty is to come into force by 2020 and it is to be applicable to all parties to the

UNFCC thus including China, India, Brazil and the United States. The process for

this is called the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action. There was also an

agreement on the Green Climate Fund to reach USD100 billion a year by 2020. It

was also agreed to consider private funding and market based mechanism for

Reduced Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD).

The coming COP18/MOP8 will be held in 2012 in Doha, Qatar.


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2.4 SBI and SBSTA

In addition to the MOP there are also meetings of the subsidiary bodies in

conjunction with the COP meetings. These permanent bodies are the SubsidiaryBoard of Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Board of Scientific and

Technological Advice (SBSTA). The SBI makes recommendations on policy

implementation issues to the COP and to other bodies if requested to do so. SBSTA

is the link between information and assessments by experts such as the

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the COP.

2.5 Ad Hoc Bodies

Apart from the permanent bodies there are also ad-hoc bodies set up as the need

arise. These are:1. Ad - hoc Working Group on Long term Cooperative Action under the

Convention (AWG LCA);2. Ad hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under

the Kyoto Protocol (AWG KP); and3. Ad hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP)

3. ILO activities on green jobs and decent work, UNCSD and COP/MOP

The ILO decent work has four elements rights at work, productive employment,social protection and social dialogue. Decent work means that working people can

work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.

To promote the ILO members commitment to the objectives of its Decent Work for

All and to reaffirm the desire to achieve full, productive and decent employment for

all by 2015 the ILO members announced in 2006, at the end of the 14 th ILOs Asian

Regional Meeting, the Asian Decent Work Decade (ADWD) to run from 2006 to 2015.

At country level the Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCP) were implemented.

With the onset of the global financial and economic crisis the Global Jobs Pact wasadopted in June 2009 by the International Labour Conference. The following are

quotations from the Global Jobs Pact on green economy and jobs.

increasing investment in infrastructure, research and development, public servicesand green production and services as important tools for creating jobs andstimulating sustainable economic activity

shifting to a low carbon, environment-friendly economy that helps accelerate thejobs recovery, reduce social gaps and support development goals and realize decent

work in the process


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In 2009 the Monitoring and Assessing Progress on Decent Work (MAP) project was

launched. The project was to strengthen the national capacity to self-monitor and self

assess progress towards decent work working with the three constituents and

research institutes.

The ILO and UNEP have defined green jobs as direct employment in economic

activities and sectors that reduces their negative environment impact, ultimately to

sustainable levels. Added to this is the explanation that green jobs must also be

decent jobs i.e. jobs which offer adequate wages, safe working conditions, job

security, reasonable career prospects, and workers rights.

Decent work should be an integral part of the definition of green jobs and should not

be compromised. The decent work activities of the ILO including the review of the

ADWD, DWCP as well as MAP have to take this into consideration.

The ILO in the Asia-Pacific has started a project on Green Jobs in Asia(2010

2015). The main objectives of the project is to deepen ILO constituents

understanding and commitments for the promotion of gender sensitive green jobs

opportunities and a just transition for workers and employers toward a lowcarbon,

climate resilient environmentally friendly development. Five countries Bangladesh,

Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines and Sri Lanka are taking part in the project over a two

year period. The ILO ROAP also participated in programs organized by the ITUC

AP.

The ILO International Training Center in Turin carried out a trade union training

programme on Climate Change Policies, Green Jobs and Decent Work in February

2011 in Bangkok for the Asia Pacific region.

The ILO at the global level participates in the UNCSD and COP/MOP processes.

There are collaboration with the ITUC in some of the ITUC activities related to the

process such as participation in ITUC organized programmes during the conference

periods of the UNCSD and COP. It has also published documents relating to green

jobs.

4. Policy and actions by ITUC AP, ITUC, Sustainlabour and GUFs on Green

jobs and decent work, UNCSD and COP/MOP

At its Founding Conference held in Bangaluroo from 5 6 September 2007 the ITUC

AP adopted an Action Programme to guide it in its work for the first conference

period from 2007 2011. Among the action programmes was one on Environmental

Protection for Sustainable Development. At its second Regional Conference held inSingapore from 11 13 May 2011, the ITUC AP adopted a resolution on Tackling


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Climate Change for Sustainable Development. (A copy of the resolution is attached

as annex 1).Together with ITUC policy guidance these two instruments form the

policy thrust of ITUC AP on the issue of environmental protection, climate change

and sustainable development.

The ITUC AP has organized three regional conferences as follows and produced a

poster on green jobs that was distributed to all the affiliates.

ITUC AP Regional Conference on Environmental Protection, Sustainable

Development and Employment in Bangkok from 25 26 March 2008;

ITUC AP Regional Conference Trade Union Asia-Pacific Conference on

Labour and the Environment in Jakarta from 26 28 November 2008; and

ITUC AP Regional Conference on Green Jobs and Decent Work the Way

Forward for Sustainable Development Post Kyoto Protocol in Singapore from

3 4 April 2012.

The ITUC AP has also occasionally participated as part of the global delegation

through ITUC in the trade union activities relating to UNCSD and COP/MOP. It also

participated in the UN Regional meeting for Major Groups and Stakeholders for Asia-

Pacific held in Seoul from 17 18 October 2011 as part of the Rio+20 process.

Being a member of the Board of Sustainlabour the ITUC AP participated in its

meetings.

To set its policy approach towards climate change and sustainable development the

ITUC at its second World Congress held in Vancouver 2010 adopted a resolution onCombating Climate Change through Sustainable Development and Just Transition.

(A copy of the resolution is attached as annex 2). Two resolutions were also adopted

at its 8th General Council meeting held in Brussels from 2 -4 February 2011. They

are resolution on Achieving Sustainable Economic Recovery, Faster Development

and Decent Work Worldwide and resolution on Trade Unions, Climate Change and

the Rio+20 process.

The ITUC is actively involved in the process of UNCSD and COP/MOP. It leads the

trade union delegation to these meetings and prepares the necessary trade uniondocuments related to these meetings. ITUC statements to G20 and IFIs have also

now include climate change, environmental protection and green job issues. It also

organizes the World of Work (WoW) Pavilion activities during COP meetings. The

WoWs show case documents such as posters and pamphlets produced by trade

unions on climate change, environmental protection, green jobs and related issues

as well as organize panel discussions and meetings during the conference period of

COP meetings. The ITUC also has a Task Force on Green Jobs and Climate

Change as well as an Ad hoc Trade Union Working Group on Climate Change.


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The ITUC in collaboration with the UNEP, ILO and IOE produced a Green Jobs

report in 2008. This was followed by the collaboration with UNEP and GUFs in late

2008 on the Green Economy Initiative. In 2012 ITUC commissioned the Millennium

Institute to produce a report, Growing Green and Decent Jobs covering 12

countries.

The International Labour Foundation for Sustainable Development or Sustainlabour,

in short, works with trade unions focusing on climate change, environmental

protection and green jobs. It conducts and participates in various awareness raising

and campaigning activities and training programmes as well as studies and research

activities. It works closely and supports the work of ITUC in the UNCSD and COP

process as well as collaborates with the ILO and UNEP in training programmes and

production of documents. It has also cooperated with ITUC AP and trade unions at

national levels on climate change and environmental issues. Together with ITUC it is

organizing the second Trade Union Assembly on Labour and the Environment in Riode Janeiro just a few days before Rio+20.

The General Secretary of ITUC is the Chair of the Board of Sustainlabour and the

three Regional General Secretaries are also members of the Board.

The Global Unions Federations representing workers in the various industrial

groupings shape their policy and activities according to their industrial groupings.

The International Transport Federation, ITF for example have done studies on

energy issues in the transport sector. The GUFs also collaborate with ITUC on theUNCSD and COP process.

5. Policy and Actions by Affiliates

Although not all affiliates of ITUC AP are actively engage on the issue of climate

change, environmental protection and green job issues there are some that have

done substantive work on these issues. Among them are the Australian Council of

Trade Unions (ACTU), Japan Trade Union Confederation (JTUC) and New Zealand

Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU).

The following on the policies and activities of ACTU, JTUC and NZCTU is based on

the presentations of the resource persons and reports from these organisaitons for

the ITUC AP regional Conference on Green Jobs and Decent Work the Way

Forward for Sustainable Development held from 3 4 April 2012 in Singapore.

The ACTU Congress in 2009 adopted the A Fair Society Environment and Climate

Change Policy. (This policy was revised and updated at the ACTU Congress held in

May 2012). Broadly the policy calls for decisive actions to be taken to reduce GHGs

emissions and that the cost of not reducing emission is higher than that of takingactions. The policy also supports the introduction of a price on carbon pollution. It


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also calls for comprehensive skills development and training as well as jobs that

meet best practice occupational health and safety standards.

The ACTU is committed to:

Ensuring that the transition process protects jobs in carbon intensiveindustries;

Support those industries to achieve best of sector standards to remain

competitive; and

Promote growth in green jobs in associated/new industries and services.

ACTU has conducted campaigns and supported and involved in government policies

on issues related to climate change and green jobs such as the developing of

proposals for the Clean Energy Future Package. In fact the ACTU in collaboration

with the Australian Conservation Foundation commissioned a study which found that

at least 770,000 extra jobs can be created by 2030 if strong action is taken now to

reduce emissions. This includes a price on carbon pollution and complementary

measures including industry policies.

The Great East Japan Earthquake on 11 March 2011 and the subsequent tsunami

and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster was the turning point for JTUC

and the Japanese Government and society at large towards the issue of nuclear

energy. The need in building a sustainable society becomes more urgent.

JTUC expresses grave concern about the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant crisis thatproved that human beings cannot fully control nuclear power. While nuclear energy

is already in use, there should be a transition period to phase out the use of such

energy that would also narrow the possible avenue to misuse of atomic energy.

JTUCs is thus reviewing its energy policy based on the philosophy of reducing

dependence on nuclear energy in the medium and long term and ultimately not to

depend on nuclear energy at all. JTUC is also looking into the issue of securing

energy sources in place of nuclear energy and actively promoting renewable energy

and conserving energy. It will be involved actively in the governments establishmentof the countrys basic energy plan and green growth strategy through its own review

of the energy policy. Thus social dialogue is an important means for JTUC to get its

views across to the government.

In visioning a society that guarantees decent employment and establishing a system

that meets the myriad risks in all stages of life such as illnesses, unemployment,

child raising and old age, the JTUC at its 20th anniversary adopted a vision of society

known as a Secure Society Built around Work as its Core Theme. Besides that it

also sets the direction of social security reforms based on its New Vision for Social

Security in the 21st Century.


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JTUC is actively involved in the preparation for Rio + 20 as part of the nine major

groups at the national level in making contributions into the Japanese Governments

input in the Rio + 20 preparatory process.

The NZCTUs vision of the economy is unashamedly people-centred. The NZCTU

thus believed that a new political economy must have the following three objectives

as laid out in its policy paper, Alternative Economic Strategy; Extracts on

Environmental Sustainability.

1. Sustainable economic development

2. Decent work and a good life

3. Voice: real participation in decision in the workplace, economy and community.

Among the policies highlighted in the paper are issues on education and skilldevelopment; innovation, research and development; environment focusing on

climate change and just transition; role of the State; taxation; social responsibility

and; measuring progress other means rather than by GDP.

The NZCTU also developed another paper on Towards Sustainability: Unions and

Climate Change. It sets out a union perspective on a number of technical and

economic issues concerning emissions trading, regulation, and sector specific

factors. It also pointed out the need for investment in skills that will underpin

sustainable development as well as employment issues. Energy conservation andefficiency are also included. This document among others is used for NZCTUs

engagement with the government and other stakeholders on climate change and

related issues.

6. Trade union strategy on green jobs and decent work as the way forward for

sustainable development what trade unions can do

6.1 Issues and Challenges

The three pillars of sustainable development: economic growth, social development

and environmental protection

The past 20 years have seen many changes. Economic growth was unprecedented

and wealth creation was also phenomenal on a global basis. These was however,

without setbacks as in the case of the Asian financial and economic crisis of

1997/1998 that developed into a massive social crisis with millions of working people

thrown out of their jobs. Not only were working people adversely affected but their

families and communities as well. The present global financial and economic crisiswhere the United States of America and Europe particularly the euro-zone countries


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are facing the worst impact, is developing into a social crisis as the situation unfolds.

Although the Asia- Pacific region is not as badly affected by the present financial and

economic crisis at the moment conditions could worsen if the situations in America

and Europe do not improve.

The existing economic development model has also led to greater inequity. The gap

between the rich and poor is widening both within and between countries. In the

developing countries of the Asia Pacific region the Gini coefficient increased from

39 to 46 between early 1990s to late 2000s. One in five workers are living in extreme

poverty i.e. with less than USD1.25 a day and two thirds of them are in Asia -

Pacific. There are 83 million people unemployed in the region and the majority of

them are youth. Insecure jobs are also on the increase. Only one in five working-age

population has access to comprehensive social protection. The increasing informal

economy especially in the Asia-Pacific region which already has a large informal

economy makes it more urgent to address the growing inequity situation. Besidesthe issue of people displaced by environmental disasters is a growing issue that

cannot be ignored. In fact 30 million people were displaced in 2010 in the Asia-

Pacific region.

The third pillar of sustainable development i.e. environmental protection also is

facing various challenges. Air and water pollution with increasing economic and

human activities is increasing environmental degradation. The rise in temperature

affecting the climate is a major issue. Climate change- related natural disaster is

increasing and are more pronounced. These include stronger tropical cyclones,prolonged drought, severe dust storms, intense rainfalls and thunderstorms, and

severed floods and snowfalls. Deforestation especially for commercial agriculture is

increasing. The use of fossil fuel for energy consumption is not declining. The rise in

sea level affecting low lying areas and small islands due to the increase in

temperature is another issue as well as the loss of biodiversity.

There has been record of temperature increase. For example in Australia since 1910

the annual average daily mean temperatures have increased by 0.9 degree Celsius

and each decade has been warmer than the previous decade since 1950s according

to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) -

State of the Climate Report, 2012 of Australia.

In 2007 the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its 4th

assessment report that gave the scientific proof of climate change due to increase in

temperature and that most of the effect was man-made. It recommended that global

temperature increase should be kept within 2 degree Celsius; GHG emission should

be reduced to between 25 40% of the 1990 level for 2020 as a short term objective

and from 50 85% for 2050.


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Under the Kyoto Protocol there is a commitment whereby the industrialized countries

(Annex B countries) which have signed and ratified the Protocol have to undertake to

reduce GHG emissions (see above under Kyoto Protocol). This commitment ends in

2012. Negotiations for the instrument after this date are still inconclusive. With the

global financial and economic crisis still unresolved it is a challenge to even reach anagreement to just retain the present commitment. Despite this a firm and strong

commitment by the parties at Rio+20 is necessary for the future of humanity and the

planet.

Another major issue on the reduction of emission of GHGs is the use of nuclear

energy. There are arguments for and against it. The Fukushima Daiichi disaster tilts

the argument against the use of nuclear energy in some countries like Germany

despite the fact that nuclear energy does reduce GHG emissions. However in some

the debate is still going on as in Japan although the JTUC is favouring a gradual

reduction with the ultimate aim of zero nuclear energy. However the ITUC has notdecided on the use of nuclear energy as yet because it has affiliates from both sides

of the argument.

With the goals of the first Rio Summit still not fully achieved after 20 years the

coming conference will have much to discuss. One of the major theme is the green

economy in the context of sustainable development provides interesting debate. The

UNEP led the launch of the Green Economy Initiative in 2008. For this purpose the

UNEP has a working definition of a green economy as one that results in improved

human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risksand ecological scarcities i.e. a green economy is one which is low carbon, resource

efficient and socially inclusive.

6.2 Trade union Strategies

The GEI definition of green economy is very much in tune with the ITUC definition

meaning a green economy will result in green and decent jobs. A green and decent

job is thus the way forward for sustainable development. Trade Unions will have to

take up the cudgel to make sure that this is the case. To be able to do this

effectively the following strategies have to be put in place.

o Building and strengthening trade unions at all levels for political

mobilisation;

o Education and awareness of the issues among members and

leadership through education & awareness programmes, campaigns

and other activities;

o Promoting and engaging in collective bargaining and social dialogue;

o Mainstreaming and making the issue of green and decent jobs as the

way forward for sustainable development as part of trade union policyand actions;


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o Supporting and promoting ITUC initiatives and campaigns on green

and decent jobs issues such as just transition, innovative funding such

as the financial transaction tax and social protection;

o Lobbying governments and involvement in government actions on

sustainable development;o Lobbying for and engaging in tripartite consensus to make sustainable

development and green and decent jobs to be at the heart of national

development

o Participation at other platforms such as at UNCSD, COP/MOP and civil

society events


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Annex 1

2nd ITUC AP Regional Conference

Resolution No. 11

TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The Conference is appalled by the wanton destruction of environment as seen in the

fast disappearance of forests, intensifying pollution of water and air, depletion of

wildlife including marine life affecting biodiversity, melting of glaciers, increasing

damage to the ozone layer and emission of nuclear substance. Recent nuclear

accidents have pointed out to the fact that we should not solely depending of nuclear

energy. Sustainability of nuclear energy is now in question. Where nuclear energy is

already in use there should be serious review of safety mechanisms of the reactors

because nuclear radiation causes serious impact on the human health and alsodamages agricultural bases and marine lives. There is inextricable link between

increasing poverty and destruction of the environment. The Conference is concerned

about inadequate effort exerted by governments and the world community to arrest

environmental degradation. It recognises the dangers that environmental degradation

poses to the livelihood of workers in particular and to human life in general.

The Conference is aware that protection of environment leads to protection of

employment because only green and decent jobs can be sustainable. Trade unions

should be involved in environmental protection in national, regional and international

fora, as key stakeholders in sustainable development. The Conference also notes thatin some countries trade unions are already involved in such activities, in particular

island states which are already victims of sea level increase and have lost their

livelihood.

Climate change is a workers issue as industrial transformation towards green

economy will entail employment adjustment. Developed nations must take the lead in

initiative in reducing their own emissions and generating green jobs and offer massive

financial and technological support to developing nations so that their development can

also be secured through a low carbon economy.

The trade unions should be actively involved in the rehabilitation of victims of climate

change and nuclear accidents iincluding resettlement, redeployment, skills up grading,

etc.

The Conference commits the ITUC-AP, working with affiliates and the GUFs to:

carry out awareness campaign for environmental protection;

collect and disseminate information concerning environmental protection to activelylobby governments, employers organisations and international and regional

frameworks with a view to realise sustainable development with environmentalfriendly industries providing green jobs with decent work;


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urge the governments concerned to conduct thorough review of security measuresto ensure the safe operation of the existing and planned nuclear reactors; todisclose all nuclear data to the public to enhance transparency; and extensivelyinvest in alternative energy sources; and

working with affiliates to develop strategies on the rehabilitation of victims of the

adverse effects of climate change; and campaign for a just transition to environmentally sustainable development and

adaptation to global warming, with special focus to the distributional impact onworkers in the region, the introduction of a Financial Transaction Tax and effectivenational and global regulation of financial entities; and

lobby governments to continue to study feasibility of the use of nuclear energy witheventual phasing out of such energy unless safety of nuclear reactors from everyaspect is provided;

campaign for commitment to Kyoto and post-Kyoto Protocols; and

building coalition with NGOs and collaborating with regional bodies on environmentissues.


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Annex 2

2nd WORLD CONGRESSVancouver, 21 - 25 June 2010- 2 - 2CO/E/6.10 (final)

RESOLUTIONONCOMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT AND JUST TRANSITION

1. Congress recognises that the multiple crises the world is facing energy, food,jobs, and climate - have common origins in a socially unjust, environmentallyunsustainable and economically inefficient model incapable of providing decent work

and decent lives to millions of people. This model makes wealth creation dependent onenvironmental degradation and generates unacceptable inequality. The planetswarming continues to accelerate; water wars are already underway; unending droughtsand expanding desertification are affecting the livelihood of millions; the rapid meltingof glaciers increase devastating downstream floods in highly populated areas; climaterelatedmigrations, often intertwined within local and regional conflicts are growing;and substantial rises in food prices and energy costs throw millions into abject poverty.

2. Congress is committed to promoting an integrated approach to sustainabledevelopment through a just transition where social progress, environmental protectionand economic needs are brought into a framework of democratic governance, wherelabour and other human rights are respected and gender equality achieved. The global

crisis must not be a pretext for delaying a global deal on climate change and indeedopens up new opportunities for a low carbon, labour intensive economy. The globalcrises show clearly that coherent and ambitious initiatives are needed to address thechallenges of today and tomorrow. It demands a transformational change in globalproduction and consumption systems to make our societies and workplaces sustainableand to safeguard and promote decent work for all. Trade unions must play a centralrole in this unprecedented transformation.

3. Congress emphasises the enormous potential for the creation of green anddecent work from a successful process of just transition that provides new green jobsopportunities, anticipates potential losses of economic activity, employment and incomein certain sectors and regions, and protects the most vulnerable throughout the

economy and the whole world. It welcomes the Green Jobs report published jointly bythe ITUC with UNEP, the ILO, and the IOE and calls for its major findings to be takenup in the development of national and international policy-making so that the socialand employment dimensions of the fight against climate change are fully addressed,including the full institutional involvement of trade unions in the planning andimplementation of just transition measures, at workplace, sectoral, national andinternational levels; awareness raising of the importance of just transition measuresamong public officials as well as the general public; skills development, vocationaltraining and other measures to re-employ any workers made redundant across allsectors; the provision of adequate social protection; investment in low carbontechnologies; social dialogue; coordinated industrial policies and research; andtransparent, democratic and effective global governance in the transition to a lowcarbon and resource efficient economy. Congress stresses the gender equalityopportunities associated with the creation of green jobs, if women are trained and


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encouraged to join that sector.

4. Congress further recognises the importance of union-led initiatives in buildingmembership in the green economy; green workplace projects to cut workplaceemissions and energy use by engaging union members in the challenge of climatechange; union-led environmental education and training programmes; and new rightsfor union workplace environment representatives to information and training onenvironmental issues. Collective bargaining and collective agreements are importanttools for trade unions to facilitate a just transition towards a low emission society. Aprecondition for democratic involvement of trade unions in climate policies is that theprinciples of ILO Conventions No. 87 and No. 98 be fully respected.

5. The reality of climate change presents an immediate and dramatic challengewhich, if unaddressed will have catastrophic consequences. Congress calls for a fair,ambitious and binding international climate change agreement and just transitionpolicy framework aimed at reducing greenhouse gases and dependence on fossil fuelswhile improving peoples living standards, without endangering industries

competitiveness or putting excessive pressure on state budgets. Congress thereforecalls for the reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions necessary to limit the globalrise in temperature to a maximum of 2C, beyond which the impact on the planet andhuman life will be irreversible. Congress therefore expresses strong support for theIPCC scenario for reducing global GHG emissions to 85% by the year 2050 andemphasises the need for interim targets for this to be achieved , including acorresponding reduction of at least 25%-40% by developed countries by 2020, comparedto 1990 emissions. Congress further supports cooperation in achieving the peaking ofglobal and national emissions as soon as possible.

6. Congress calls on all Governments to comply with the United NationsFramework Convention on Climate Change and to contribute fully and appropriately

to the fight against climate change through significant reductions in their GHGemissions. In this context, it acknowledges that industrialised countries areresponsible for over 75% of GHGs in the worlds atmosphere and have benefittedmaterially from a high carbon development path without meeting its external costs.Climate change is mostly the responsibility of developed countries, thoughunfortunately developing countries are adopting the same economic growth patternsthat brought us to this disastrous situation. Congress also recognises that withoutmitigation measures, 50-75% of carbon emission growth from energy use for 2000-2030will come from developing nations. Therefore developed and developing nations alikehave a responsibility to act in achieving overall reductions of GHG emissions in theatmosphere. It is in this light that we affirm our profound belief that the principle ofcommon but differentiated responsibilities is an appropriate response. Climate change

is a workers issue. Developed nations must take the lead in initiatives to mitigate andadapt to climate change both through major reductions in their own emissions andthrough the adequate financing of measures to be taken by developing countries underthe principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capacities.In accordance with the same principle, emerging economies must also take onresponsibilities to limit their rapid emission growth. In order to ensure the integrity ofan international climate agreement there must be a robust and transparent systemthat measures, reports and verifies emission reduction actions and financialcommitments by all nations.

7. Congress insists that the US$ 85 billion per year from 2013 to 2017 that the UNconsiders necessary in public funding for adequate adaptation by developing countriesbe made available. Public funding should be made available for the greening of theeconomies, and innovative sources of funding should be taken into consideration. In


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addition measures need to be taken to encourage private investment that meets labourstandards and environmental sustainability standards. Action to be taken can includeboth the transformation of industrial sectors and the adoption of targets for renewableenergy and energy efficiency, recycling, measures against deforestation, and thetransfer of necessary technologies to developing countries. Financial speculation in thepurchase or sale of carbon would undermine the real and imperative need to reducecarbon emissions and must be prevented. Congress considers that carbon marketsmust be regulated to fulfil that purpose effectively.

8. Congress recognises with deep concern that environmental degradation andclimate change is already impacting severely the livelihoods of millions of workingpeople and the sustainability of large numbers of communities. It is estimated that upto a billion people will be forced to leave their homes by 2050 due to climate change,environmental degradation and resultant conflict, with women beingdisproportionately affected. Small island and low-lying developing countries face aparticularly critical situation requiring international solidarity and Congress thereforesupports the possible strengthening of global long term goals for emissions reductions

in the light of new scientific evidence, including a possible limit of temperature rise to1.5 degrees Celsius. The impacts of climate change on water availability and qualitywill intensify current water management problems and also require huge investments.Due to these and other impacts, climate change jeopardises human rights. It isessential that the fight against environmental degradation and climate change becarried forward with full regard to overall trade union goals of social justice, decentwork and gender equality, within the framework of a strategy of just transition fromthe current production and consumption pattern to a sustainable low carbon climateresilientalternative.

ITUC Action Programme

9. Congress instructs the ITUC and regional organisations, working together withGlobal Unions partners and affiliates, to:

(a) Defend a model of sustainable global development, continue to seek therealisation of green jobs and just transition, and raise awareness of the linkagesbetween sustainable development, natural resources, climate change and theworld of work as well as the role trade unions can play on these issues;

(b) Continue to work for the adoption at the UNFCCC of a fair, ambitious, andbinding international climate change agreement and just transition policyframework at the earliest opportunity, and to promote the need for climate justiceand a human rights-based approach when dealing with climate change;

(c) Participate in national political and social dialogue and contribute to providingsolutions for the transition to a low carbon green and decent working life;

(d) Develop awareness-raising, research, training and policy guidance to increasetrade union action on environmental issues, including climate change, at theinternational, national and workplace levels;

(e) Continue its involvement with UNEP and the ILO under the Green EconomyInitiative, in particular analysing the means for transforming current jobs intomore sustainable ones, and contribute to the development of other initiativeswith the same ends in all regions and sectors worldwide;

(f) Maintain trade union work in other crucial multilateral processes linked to


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sustainable development, and ensuring that union views and proposals arereflected in the outcomes of the Rio+20 Summit in 2012;

(g) Develop trade union actions to monitor workplace measures by companies tocomply with adopted environmental targets and to share concrete experiences ofclimate improvements at workplaces, through the ITUC climate website as aninspiration for unions across the globe;

(h) Maintain and increase work within the international bodies as a means forstrengthening trade union influence and capacity at the national and local levelwhen climate policies will be decided and implemented; and

(i) Strengthen outreach work with governments, UN agencies, civil societyorganisations and enterprises on promoting the green and decent jobs agenda,and with the Sustainlabour Foundation on training and increasing trade unioncapacity including through the organisation of a Second Trade Union Assemblyon Labour and the Environment.

_______________June 2010

ituc - ap paper on g d jobs - the way forward for sustainable development

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