When we see records being broken and unprecedented events such as this, the onus is on those who deny any connection to climate change to prove their case. Global warming has fundamentally altered the background conditions that give rise to all weather. In the strictest sense, all weather is now connected to climate change. Kevin Trenberth
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Trade unions worldwide say strong climate action could deliver 48 million jobs
from The Climate Group, May 23, 2014
LONDON: A new international campaign, Unions4Climate action,
has been launched at the World Congress of the International Trade
Union Confederation (ITUC) this week. The movement aims to draw
attention to the potential of the low carbon economy, with a focus on
green job creation. More than 50 trade unions across the globe are demanding that governments deliver an ambitious climate agreement at the UNFCCC 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris next year.
The international gathering is the deadline for determining the post
2020 climate framework and widely recognized as a crucial meeting for
delivering meaningful climate action. Józef Niemiec, Deputy General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), commented: “The
ETUC urges governments to agree to an ambitious and legally binding
agreement in Paris next year. A global framework, built on common but
differentiated responsibilities, is the cornerstone of the just
transition we are calling for.” The leaders of the unions involved in the campaign are arguing that acting
on climate change will lead to an industrial revolution which will
create new jobs for the millions of workers they represent. A recent report from the International Renewable Energy Agency
highlighted that 6.5 million people worldwide are employed in the clean
energy industry, with solar PV being the main renewable sector of
employment. The ITUC believe that with the right policy framework even
more jobs could be created. Pointing to its own research, the ITUC state that by taking action to
mitigate climate change, 48 million new jobs could be created in just
12 countries. In the last two years in Germany up to 400,000 new
renewable energy jobs have been created, the union highlight. Similarly,
data released by the American Solar Foundation, revealed that 23,682 new US solar jobs were added in 2013 giving a growth rate of 19.9% on the comparable figure for 2012. The unions have said that they will use the new campaign to demand that governments strengthen their climate policies. In addition, Unions4Climate action will facilitate the development of coherent global strategy for delivering an industrial revolution and boosting employment. “The mission of the trade union movement to ensure jobs, rights and social equality requires that we embrace the cause of a just transition towards sustainable development – a transition that must start now,” Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the ITUC explained.
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