[Fifth in the series “Labor goes to Copenhagen]

The effort to address the worst environmental catastrophe in human history is coming in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s.  Business and governments have used economic adversity as an excuse to limit efforts to address climate change.   As representatives of unions from around the world join the climate conference in Copenhagen, they are advocating a very different approach: a “global green new deal” which uses massive investment in climate protection to create millions of new green jobs and jumpstart the global economy.  (more…)

[Fourth in the series “Labor goes to Copenhagen]

One of the most contentious issues in climate negotiations is how to share the burden of climate protection between the rich developed countries of the North and the poor developing countries of the South.

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) represents unionized workers in all parts of the world, including both the developed and the developing countries.  For that reason it has had to work hard to develop a consensus based on an approach to climate protection that recognizes the needs of workers in developing countries while also protecting workers in developed countries. (more…)

[Third in the series “Labor Goes to Copenhagen]

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a UN-sponsored scientific body that was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its work, keeping global temperature within 2 degrees C of historic levels requires reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by specific targets.

The global trade union movement has committed itself to the IPPC’s science-based targets.  In its statement to the Copenhagen negotiations, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), which represents 170 million workers in trade unions around the world, said, (more…)

[Second in the series “Labor goes to Copenhagen"]

At the core of global labor’s strategy for climate protection is the idea of a “just transition” to a low-carbon economy.

A just transition means that the burden of change that benefits everyone will not be placed disproportionately on a few.  It means that those most vulnerable to change will be protected.  It means that the process of change will increase social justice for workers, women, the poor, and all oppressed groups.  (more…)