Climate change: the ETUC calls for a 75% cut in EU Greenhouse Gases by 2050

By ETUC

The Executive Committee of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) called for the Kyoto Protocol to be strengthened from 2012, and for the opening of a European tripartite social dialogue on climate change.

Now is the time for the European Union (EU) to set long-term objectives for its climate change policy, in order to guarantee investment in new technologies and low-carbon energy sources and to make a significant impact on individual behaviour. The ETUC calls on the European Commission and the Member States to agree binding targets for the reduction of emissions in the EU, of around 25% by 2020 and 75% by 2050, compared with 1990 levels, without waiting for the outcome of international negotiations on the follow-up to Kyoto.

In view of the degree of effort required, the ETUC emphasises that it will be vital to involve workers. The level of support for the necessary measures will depend to a large extent on how far the social impacts - both positive and negative - are taken into consideration and handled in a fair and balanced way. The ETUC demands new information and consultation rights on environmental issues for workers' representatives in companies throughout the EU.

"The research we are currently carrying out confirms that tackling climate change affords significant positive job opportunities, which need to be exploited. On the other hand, we must also expect sectoral restructuring that could be painful if it is not anticipated and managed properly," declared ETUC General Secretary John Monks.

Consequently, the ETUC is demanding that a European framework for tripartite dialogue on climate change should be set up, bringing together the European social partners and the relevant Directorates-General of the Commission. The aim of this process would be to prevent of any negative social effects, in particular relating to employment and competitiveness, and to take advantage of the social benefits arising from the implementation of climate change policies.

Future climate policy must also share out the burden more fairly between different economic sectors. Domestic sectors (transport, services, residential) that are less exposed to international competition and major emitters of greenhouse gases must make a bigger contribution, says the ETUC. The resolution puts forward detailed recommendations in this area.

In particular, the ETUC regrets the lack of ambition on the part of the EU with regard to transport. It calls for a coordinated European strategy on sustainable transport, aimed at moving traffic away from road and air towards means of transport that generate fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and developing coordinated intermodal travel systems, while at the same time improving working conditions in the road haulage sector. Such a strategy must also put in place a European framework for tariffs on the use of transport infrastructure, so as to cover the external social and environmental costs of different modes of transport, and European legislation limiting average CO2 emissions from new vehicles to 120 g/km by 2012.

www.etuc.org/a/2959