The rising danger posed to workers by climate change is demonstrated by new EU data showing that the number of people exposed to heat waves at work has increased by 60% over the last 20 years – highlighting the need for a European directive on maximum working temperatures.

In a context of new industrial policies being developed by the European Commission, a shift in focus from the European Green Deal to competitiveness, and growing international geoeconomic tensions, it is essential to engage in constructive and multi-stakeholder discussions on industrial policy. 

This is a call for a subcontractor to provide expertise on climate change and OSH risks in the framework of the ETUC project "Prevention of OSH risks: climate change, psychosocial factors and the EU trade strategy". The deadline for submission of bids is 8 September 2025 at noon (12:00). 

This is a call for a subcontractor to provide expertise on trade and OSH risks in the framework of the ETUC project "Prevention of OSH risks: climate change, psychosocial factors and the EU trade strategy". The deadline for submission of bids is 8 September 2025 at noon (12:00).

Climate goals set without a clear social plan will turn decarbonisation into deindustrialisation, trade unions are warning after the European Commission today proposed a target of a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.  In the week when the deaths of workers in high temperatures has demonstrated again how working people are on the frontline of the climate crisis, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) fully supports the EU in showing leadership on this issue. 

Responding to the European Commission’s proposals for a Preparedness Union Strategy, ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said: "Preparedness means being ready for climate, biological and security events. We’ve received reports time and again that the workplace dimension was overlooked. This is a real risk when there is top down decision-making that discards the reality on the ground, trade unions need to be included.

The number of workers whose lives were needlessly put at risk during the recent DANA flooding shows why Europe urgently needs to adapt working practices to climate change, the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said in Valencia today. Speaking at the congress of the European Federation of Food, Agriculture, and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT) being held in the city of Valencia, Esther Lynch said “no event in recent memory showed more clearly how all workers are on the frontline of climate change.”

Dear Environment and Labour Ministers,In conjunction with the European Trade Union Confederation, we, the undersigned, serving as Presidents and General Secretaries of Trade Unions from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), are compelled to underscore the importance of safeguarding just transition initiatives deliberated within the Environment Council Conclusions.

The number of people dying at work due to extreme heat is increasing faster in the European Union than any other part of the world, new data shows ahead of International Workers’ Memorial Day. According to estimates provided to the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), 80,800 people suffered injuries at work due to heat exposure in 2020 and 67 people died as a result of working in extreme heat. 

A joint ETUC-NEF report by Sebastian Mang and Dominic Caddick

A dedicated just transition directive is needed to ensure the 2040 climate target announced by the European Commission can be met without further social unrest. Over the next 16 years, the Commission wants to achieve a 90% net reduction in reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels. Trade unions support climate action – but already agreed climate legislation fails to convince people in affected sectors and regions because the European Green Deal doesn’t yet take into account the social and labour impacts of the transition. Too narrow

EU leaders won’t be able to keep their promises on climate change if austerity rules are reintroduced, trade unions are warning after the conclusion of COP28. EU leaders used speeches at the summit in Dubai to renew their commitment to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.

This week the European Parliament voted to adopt the political deals at the heart of the ‘Fit for 55’ package. Including the revision and extension of the Emissions Trading Scheme and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. IndustriAll Europe, and the ETUC reiterate their demand that the industrial and social changes that ambitious climate targets must be accompanied by new rights for European workers to anticipate and manage changes to guarantee a Just Transition for every worker in every region of Europe.

This is a call for a subcontractor to provide expertise in the framework of the implementation of the ETUC project “Prevention of OSH risks emerging from the dual transitions and at the centre of the EU trade strategy – focus on the Twin Transition”. The deadline for submission of bids is 10 April 2023 at noon (12:00). All details are in the Pdf attached

From 1 May, all private-sector workers who cycle to work in Belgium will have the right to higher mileage allowances, under a deal between trade unions and employers. The compensation per kilometre will increase from €0.24 to €0.27, indexed annually.

Commenting on the outcome of COP 27 in Egypt, ETUC’s Ludovic Voet said “The outcome of COP27 is disappointing because the results are not up to the scale of the problem facing us. “The setting up of a fund for loss and damage, and the acknowledgement of the need for a socially just transition to a carbon-neutral economy through  social dialogue, are steps forward for coping with climate change and rebuilding international trust in the fight against  climate change. The achievements are the trees that hide the wood of climate inaction.

ETUC position on EU proposals to mitigate the energy crisis Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee of 28 October 2022 Summary of key messages

This summer, young people planted thousands of saplings in the forest named after Finnish trade union confederation Akava, in North Ostrobothnia. The 4H organisation’s Taimiteko project is restoring forests in areas where peat has been taken for energy production, and at the same time supporting summer employment for young people.

The European Commission presented today its plan to reduce European gas demand  by 15% from 1 August to 31 March 2023. ETUC agrees that reducing energy consumption and encouraging energy savings is the most effective short term answer to the current emergency. Anticipating the challenges ahead and increasing coordination between Member States is also positive.

ETUC recommendations in light of the Energy price Crisis Resolution adopted at the Executive Committee meeting of 22-23 June 2022 Summary of key messages

Trade unions are calling on MEPs – voting on June 6 - to help working people get through the energy crisis by backing changes to the Emissions Trading System. 

The CFDT, CFE-CGC and UNSA trade unions in France have agreed a sustainable mobility package with Paris-based multinational insurance company Axa, that will reimburse employees for coming to work by more climate-friendly means of transport.

ETUC position on the creation of a second ETS on road transport and building and of a new Social Climate Fund Adopted at the Executive Committee meeting of 8-9 December 2021 Background On 14 July 2021, the European Commission published its Fit for 55 Package. This package consists in 13 legislative proposals that aim at aligning EU climate and energy policies with the new climate targets set by the recently adopted Climate Law – a GHG emission reduction of 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, and climate neutrality by 2050.

ETUC position for A Just Transition Legal Framework to complement the Fit for 55 package Adopted at the Executive Committee meeting of 8-9 December 2021 Background On 14 July 2021, the European Commission released its Fit for 55 Package. This package consists of 13 legislative proposals that aim at aligning EU climate and energy policies with the new climate targets set by the recently adopted Climate Law – a GHG emission reduction of at least 55% by 2030 compared to the 1990 levels, and climate neutrality by 2050.