Barcelona Climate Change talks report
Barcelona Climate Change talks report
Philip Pearson, the TUC's Senior Policy Officer on environmental issues has been part of the ITUC delegation at the conferences in the run-up to Copenhagen next month:
I have picked up a copy of the latest draft texts this morning at the Barcelona Climate Change talks - the wordings of which will go forward to Copenhagen next month. It was looking really touch-and-go for a while there on the inclusion of our Just Transition framework terminology, but I'm glad to say that thanks to a number of interventions and assurances, including some great support from people at the Department of Energy and Climate Change (and of course sustained lobbying from all parts of our international union delegation under the banner of the ITUC), the key language on Just Transition that we wanted to protect lives to fight another day.
In paragraph 9 of the Shared Vision section of the texts, the key phrase has actually been improved. It now refers to:
"ensuring a just transition of the workforce which creates decent work and quality jobs, while seeking the active participation of all stakeholders."
DECC have been offering some good leadership going into Copenhagen, under their Road to Copenhagen commitments for "a fair, ambitious and above all a binding deal". But unions and our supporters need to help them keep their focus not just on the topline demands, but the key language of Just Transition, decent work and stakeholder consultation. This translates for us into a place at the top table in Copenhagen.
We can all do our own little bit to back them up by signing up to support Ed's Pledge - Energy Secretary Ed Miliband's online campaign for a strong deal at Copenhagen. Give him a click now at www.edspledge.com
You can read more of Philip's reports from the climate talks events as they happen at the TUC's ToUChstone blog.
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