Tag Archives: cop21

Home, International Program for Labor, Climate and Environment

COP21: Dispatch #3 – A Bad Deal & A Call to Action

From Trade Unions for Energy Democracy, 12/11/15:

The Paris climate summit (Cop 21) is nearly over, and the deal that’s presently on the table falls short in terms of commitments on emissions, financing, human rights, and just transition.  The core concerns of unions and social movements remain in the preamble to the Paris Agreement and not the operative articles of the text.

On December 7th, these shortcomings were acknowledged by a capacity crowd of 700 people from the trade unions and their allies at a meeting organized by Trade Unions for Energy Democracy, the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung–New York Office, Global Climate Jobs and the Global Labour Institute Network.

The audience heard inspiring messages from writer and activist Naomi Klein and UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, as well as trade unions involved in TUED in different regions.

The power of these messages is captured in this 17-minute video, produced by ReelNews for TUED.  The speakers addressed energy democracy, climate jobs, and the need for a transition that is both just and transformative. 

A segment of Naomi Klein’s full presentation can also be viewed here.  She urged unions and their allies not to accept a “highly dangerous” deal, and to take to the streets in Paris on December 12.

A video of Jeremy Corbyn’s presentation is here.  His remarks on how the failure to address climate has contributed to recent flooding throughout Northern England, Scotland and Wales have been broadly distributed by the media. He urged unions and the climate movement to “unleash the hope” for a truly sustainable future.

Photo Credit: Chris Bentley/flickr/cc

 

Home, International Program for Labor, Climate and Environment

COP21: Dispatch #2 – Unions and Allies Stage Sit-In

From Trade Unions for Energy Democracy, 12/9/15, 1700 hrs, Central European Time:

Unions and allies are staging a sit-in at COP 21 following the release of the  DRAFT PARIS OUTCOME 

Short video of the action — Watch this space!

Trade unions and social movement allies have been pushing hard to have their concerns reflected in the operational articles of the agreement, but at this time these concerns are part of a preamble that “takes into account,” “recognizes” or “notes” these fundamental concerns. 

The ITUC delegation’s main goal at COP 21 is to have “the imperatives of a just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs in accordance with nationally defined development priorities” situated in Article 2, paragraph 2, and thus a central part of agreement.

However, the ITUC is concerned that the new draft leaves all the key issues unresolved; it lacks an ambitious long term goal, a solid review mechanism, and solid financial commitments to and beyond 2020.

The protest urged ministers to go back to the negotiating table.

Photo by thierry ehrmann via flickr (CC-BY).

Home, International Program for Labor, Climate and Environment

Trade Unions and Climate Change: A Conversation with Naomi Klein and Jeremy Corbyn

On December 7th, Trade Unions for Energy Democracy, Global Climate Jobs Campaign, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung—New York and the Global Labour Institute Network presented an important discussion between Naomi Klein and Jeremy Corbyn about trade unions and climate change.

Naomi Klein, supported by UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, called for mass civil disobedience to break the ban on demonstrations on December 12.

Trade unionists and others discussed real solutions to climate change: an end to fossil fuels, energy democracy, and a just transition to millions of climate jobs. Catch some of this important discussion below.

Home, International Program for Labor, Climate and Environment

COP21: Dispatch #1

From Murphy Prof. Sean Sweeney, 12/5/15:

I am here at COP 21 in Paris, where the first week of the two-week UN climate change conference has just concluded. Unions are fighting for a reference in the final agreement to “a just transition of the workforce” and are getting support from Argentina, Canada and one or two others.  The US negotiators are not blocking this, but neither are they willing to support it openly. Meanwhile, the JSMI is represented through Trade Unions for Energy Democracy, which has organized a number of workshops on the issue of asserting democratic control over the energy system in order to meet climate targets. Here’s an article in YES! that reports on one of these sessions.