How Can Unions Fit into Industry-Driven Climate Agreements?
Bob Baugh, executive director of the AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council and co-chair of the AFL-CIO Energy Task Force, has recently returned from Bonn, Germany, where he participated in meetings to ensure that labor’s input contributes to larger United Nations climate change discussions later this year. This report follows up on his first three blogs from Bonn here, here and here.
Climate talks in Bonn have gone slowly. Developing nations have been claiming that developed nations have all the “historic responsibility” for acting on climate change and they have none. At another level, the undercurrent was all about the major diplomatic initiative in Beijing led by Todd Stern, U.S. special envoy for climate. Jonathan Pershing, the U.S. delegation leader, left Bonn to join him in China.
Upon his return to Bonn, Pershing said the discussions had been productive. He said they had discussed the idea of a joint research and development agenda, and although no decisions had been made, “that was to be expected for a first meeting.” It makes sense but the media tended to report it as a disappointment because there was no “breakthrough announcement.” That’s the nature of the high expectations and recognition that the U.S.-China relationship is one of the keys to achieving a global climate agreement.
‘Just Transition’: Putting Meaning to the Words
Bob Baugh, executive director of the AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council and co-chair of the AFL-CIO Energy Task Force, is in Bonn, Germany, for meetings to ensure that labor’s input contributes to larger United Nations climate change discussions later this year. This report follows up on his first two blogs from Bonn here and here.
The 30 international trade unionists here in Bonn, under the umbrella of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), are redoubling efforts to ensure that language calling for a “just transition” to a global green economy is included in the outline of a new climate agreement we’ll discuss at a larger U.N. climate change conference this December in Copenhagen.
In short, the ITUC is calling for commitments to a “just transition” for “sustainable, low-carbon economies as the key to guarantee a socially sustainable outcome.”
Tough Negotiations on Climate Change in Bonn
Bob Baugh, executive director of the AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council and co-chair of the AFL-CIO Energy Task Force, is in Bonn, Germany, for meetings to ensure that labor’s input contributes to larger United Nations global climate change discussions later this year. His latest report below follows up on his first blog from Bonn here.
Trade unionists know that negotiations are a tough business even in the best of times. Imagine a negotiating process with 189 nations and multiple stakeholders, including business, labor, environmental and other civil society organizations. It is an intense process. Yesterday was one of those days.
U.S. Union Movement Joins in U.N. Climate Change Talks in Bonn
Bob Baugh, executive director of the AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council and co-chair of the AFL-CIO Energy Task Force, is in Bonn, Germany, for meetings to ensure that labor’s input contributes to larger United Nations global climate change discussions later this year.
More than 4,000 representatives of governments, business, labor and environmental organizations from around the world are meeting here in Bonn as part of global talks on climate change. The June 2-12 sessions in the former German capital are focused on the outline of a new climate agreement we’ll discuss at a larger U.N. climate change conference this December in Copenhagen.
Members of the AFL-CIO and 30 other international trade union representatives are taking part under the umbrella of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). We are here to follow up on our previous efforts that have resulted in language within the current climate change proposals that speaks to “Just Transition,” and to plan for a series of union events in Copenhagen.
