16 December, 2010The need for Just Transition for workers in moving to a secure, greener future was acknowledged by COP16, but unions demand more commitment particularly from developed countries for committing to ambition emission reductions.
MEXICO: More than 200 trade unionists led by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) made a great effort to implement the concept of "Just Transition" in the final text of United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP16), which was achieved at the last moment of the negotiations in Cancun.
The final text adopted by the Conference is called "Outcome of the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on long-term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA) under the Convention". It includes a full paragraph on Just Transition in the final text, which reads: "Realizes that addressing climate change requires a paradigm shift towards building a low-carbon society that offers substantial opportunities and ensures continued high growth and sustainable development, based on innovative technologies and more sustainable production and consumption and lifestyles, while ensuring a just transition of the workforce that creates decent work and quality jobs." For the full text go to: http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/cop_16/application/pdf/cop16_lca.pdf
In a statement released after the Conference, the ITUC welcomed the final agreement and called on governments, particularly the most developed, to raise their sights by the time of the next meeting in Durban South Africa in 2011. "In particular, we want developed countries to commit to ambitious emission reductions under a legally binding framework. Climate finance needs to respond to the needs of the poorest of the world," said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.
Throughout the Conference the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) and the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM) promoted their policy of five pillars of "Cutting emissions, transforming jobs - Working in green jobs for a secure future", including the pillar on Just Transition.
For COP17 in Durban, the international trade union movement will continue to participate in the negotiation process seeking a legally-binding agreement, which ensures that just transition is the next step. IMF and ICEM will continue to promote the importance of just transition with concrete policies such as green technology innovation and the need of building a fund for providing assistance with mitigation and adaptation, in the transition to a sustainable future.