ETUC believes that countries in the north must assume their responsibilities vis-à-vis their southern counterparts
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) demands that greater attention be paid to issues to do with employment and solidarity in the climate negotiations and that the European Union commit itself firmly to a new multilateral agreement that extends the Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012.
A sizeable delegation comprising representatives from international trade union organisations, ETUC, and trade unions in Europe and the rest of the world will participate in the 11th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP11) and the 1st Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (MOP1) which will be held in Montreal (Canada), 28 November - 8 December, 2005.
In their official declaration made to the Conference, the unions demand that issues associated with adapting to the effects of climate change feature at the top of the agenda of COP11. Rich countries must not be allowed to shirk their responsibilities, and must deploy the resources required to help the most vulnerable countries face up to this challenge.
ETUC insists that the European Union respect the commitments it made in the Kyoto Protocol to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. "The EU’s sluggish response is a cause for concern. Fulfilling the obligations set out in Kyoto is all about showing solidarity with those people living in the South who are most prone to the effects of climate change. Moreover, the credibility of the Union in international climate negotiations is also on the line," said ETUC General Secretary John Monks.
ETUC is also calling on the European Union to commit itself to ensuring that the parties to COP 11 adopt a road map for the negotiation of a multilateral framework once the Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period (2008 to 2012) comes to an end. The European Union has set itself some ambitious internal targets regarding the long-term reduction of emissions. ETUC believes it must harbour similar ambitions in the international arena.
ETUC is also of the opinion that any future agreement must set out to limit emissions not only in Europe, but also in the United States, and also to reduce the energy intensity of growth in developing countries, whilst respecting the principle of ’common but differentiated responsibilities’.
The Kyoto Protocol provides an opportunity to boost employment and achieve social progress both in Europe and around the world. The unions are advocating the establishment of international sectoral programmes, entailing joint efforts made by countries in both the North and the South with respect to innovation, investment, vocational training and research in domains such as transport, building and power generation.
All the actors are involved. Social dialogue, consultation and negotiation between employers and unions must be intensified if people’s energies and skills are to be harnessed effectively.
Workplaces burn energy, consume resources and generate waste. Governments must therefore take urgent steps to encourage union participation in the workplace and in national sectoral strategies to tackle climate change.
The Kyoto Protocol also calls for solidarity, because the changes that need to be made will not come about if workers fear that their jobs may be on the line. Employment transition programmes comprising income support and retraining measures must now be devised in all countries.
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