Transcript Emploi et politiques climatiques en Europe

Pushing for a New Sustainable Deal for
Europe
Answering the environmental crisis and jobs crisis
Judith Kirton-Darling
12-13 February 2013
Unsustainable Development
• Current situation is unsustainable at European and global levels:
• Economically: a banking system that does not function properly, is
unable to guarantee the necessary investments and is further promoting
speculation
• Socially: high unemployment – highest recorded levels globally (26
million in Europe : 1/5 of young workers on average, to 45% of Spanish
young workers) – ½ global workforce working in insecure conditions.
Environmental degradation is increasing social inequalities between and
within countries.
• Environmentally: global committments are too weak offering no means
to avoid a 2°C increase by 2100 (IPCC). Currently we are on-line for at
least 4°C increase globally, with the associated loss of biodiversity,
increased threat to human development and increased conflicts.
Green Economy- four ways?
• Reduce, reuse and recycle, including making all
production green, may be the panacea – a market
liberal view. Worst case: green-washing and greening
greed
• De-growth or a critical approach to the system of
economy, based on what is know as hard sustainability
• Distributive growth, tries to look at SCP in a ‘frugal’
way
• Global transition – incremental change with
strengthening key institutions
Action on climate has jobs impact
Source: Eurofound 2013
Austerity can’t deliver
• Austerity measures will not build a greener, fairer Europe or world.
They will not deliver the jobs and skills, nor the fair and just
transition to a sustainable economic future vital for us all.
• To tackle the triple challenges of climate change, resource depletion
and the banking crisis, we need a sustainable new deal, with
investment in energy- and resource-efficiency, greening jobs,
greening skills and above all, worker involvement.
• Key elements at European level and internationally:
– Framework on GHG emissions reductions: Ambitious reduction targets for
domestic GHG emissions (respecting IPCC analysis: -25 to -40% by 2020 for
developed countries on 1990 levels to reach -80 to -95% by 2050)
– Financing framework: Green Climate Fund, FTT etc.
– Framework for Just Transition
– Resource-efficiency framework?
New functions for the state and public services
– Liberal state: core functions were economic
– Welfare state: social core functions were
added to the economic functions
– Environmental state: sustainable functions
are included (supporting sustainable
infrastructure, consumption, taxation)
Financing the transformation
The Commission estimates investments of €270 billion/per year are necessary to achieve
a reduction of 80 to 95% by 2050 in Europe (1.5% GDP additional investment
(total19% GDP)).
Internationally:
• Stern report (2006): 1% global GDP in additional investment
• UNEP (2011): US$1.05-$2.59 trillion a year
• IEA: US$46 trillions or US$750 billion a year between 2010-2030 and US$1.6 trillions
a year between 2030-2050
• Bloomberg New Energy Finance (2010): additional investments in clean energy of
US$500 milliards a year by 2020 to achieve 2°C max increase by 2100.
• McKinsey (2008): €500-€1.100 billion by 2030
In comparison: in 2009, US$312 billion in fossil fuel subsidies vs.US$57 billion in
renewable energies
Or, the IMF says that rich countries have provided $9.2tn in government support for the
financial sector in credit crunch, while emerging economies spent $1.6tn
Source: Redefine/Greens-EFA 2011
Reorient existing funds and look at innovative
solutions
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Internationally, developed countries committed to mobilize US$100 billion a
year to 2020. It’s time to put promises into practice:
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The Green Climate Fund should be adequately funded and should become operational
$100bn should be based on public money (ensures predictability, geographical balance)
Climate finance must be additional to Overseas Development Aid (ODA) existing
commitments
At European level we need to:
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Mobilise and reinforce existing financial resources such as: through the EU
budget (20% target), through European Investment Bank and European Bank
for Regional Development.
Reform the governance of funds and loans, notably through respect for social
rights and conventions (ILO labour standards, UN human rights charter) and
environmental standards as a precondition for financing projects
Generate new sources of revenue through a Financial Transaction Tax,
Eurobonds and Project bonds, as levers for private capital investment
Create a carbon price signal through CO2 taxation (with conditions)
Giving the right economic signals
• A means of improving
competitiveness while reducing
some labour costs and promoting
energy- and resource-efficiency
• Need to ensure effective
financing for social protection
systems so not a direct
conversion
• Polluter-pays principle: need to
internalise the external social
and environmental costs in
calculations of investment risk
What is « Just Transition »?
« Just transition and the promotion of decent work » were included for the first
time in a climate agreement in Cancun and Just transition is now an
important dimension of the UN Climate regime – now these should be
applied through a European Just Transition Roadmap 2050 to accompany
long-term climate and energy policies
For the ETUC there are 5 pillers to a Just Transition:
• Regulation not market alone
• Dialogue between governments and key actors, including social partners.
The respect of human and trade union rights: democratic participation and
the respect of these rights are essential to ensure a fair deal for workers
and their communities
• Creation and maintenance of decent green jobs through investment in lowcarbon technologies, R&D, innovation under the umbrella of coherent and
coordinated industrial policies, including a strong public policy framework
• Active training and education strategies ensuring workers are able to
prepare themselves for the transition to greater energy- and resourceefficiency
• Strong and effective social protection systems
Jobs must be at the centre of policy
 For ETUC, all sectors have a role to play (ETUC studies
2007/2009/2011/2012)
 Green jobs span a wide range of occupational profiles, of skills
and educational backgrounds. Some constitute entirely new types of
jobs but most build on traditional professions and occupations,
with more or less modified job contents and competences
 Even in the case of new industries and technologies, such as
wind and solar power generation, the supply chains consist
largely of traditional industries like iron and steel and the
manufacture of machine parts
 There is evidence of the potential for greening jobs across the
entire workforce, from green collar workers through skilled
workers, craftsmen and entrepreneurs to highly qualified
technicians, engineers and managers.
 Job creation depends on the regulatory framework
More precarious work cannot produce
sustainable green jobs
• Green jobs are not necessarily decent jobs – they must be
made decent jobs:
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Secure employment
Safe working environments
Investment in training and education
Labour and trade union rights and worker involvement
• Improved competitiveness can and should be reached by
other means than by pressing labour costs: e.g. R&D,
innovation and their financing; energy efficiency; industrial
policies; technological platforms
• Better compensated jobs tend to be of better quality:
wages are not the enemy-they are the engine of our
economies
A rights & organising agenda: key role for energy- and
resource efficiency at the workplace
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Workplaces (& transport to work) 50% of EU GHG emissions, changing
workplace attitudes means engaging with workers, engaging with
corporate/workplace strategy but has the added benefit of changing
behaviour outside the workplace. The ETUC is pushing for:
• EU and national binding targets on energy efficiency and energy
savings (new law fixes limits to 2020)
• New and extended rights for shop stewards in health and safety and
environmental matters
• Supporting initiatives through training programmes and financing
measures
• Managing and anticipating skills and jobs developments through social
dialogue
• Reinforcing the principle that building a low-carbon economy means
improving existing skills much more that creating specific ‘green skills’
• Reinforcing the capacity of workers in all jobs and sectors to get
involved and play their role: on the offensive not on the defensive!
ETUC Green Workplaces agenda
Ensuring the finance and Just Transition: setting the
right domestic targets
• ETUC has been calling for European leadership in the face of
the threat of a double dip recession, but we also need
leadership internationally in UNFCCC
• Europe should promote a New Sustainable Deal together with
more ambitious climate and energy targets, based on binding
energy efficiency targets, to ensure sustainable growth,
investment in infrastructures and public services, and investor
engagement
• We should get too fixated on the short-term of 2020 but should
be thinking about what is necessary to reach the goals of 2050,
according to the Commission that means:
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2020: 25-30%
2030: 40%
2040: 60%
2050: 80% (plus 15% external action) = 95%
Thanks for listening!
Judith Kirton-Darling
www.etuc.org
References
“Climate change and
employment” 2007
http://www.etuc.org/a/3675
Impact of climate change on
employment and measures to
reduce CO2 emissions in the
European Union 25 by 2030
“Climate disruptions, new
industrial policies and ways out
of the crisis” 2009
http://www.etuc.org/a/7585
ETUC 2010 brochure available at this address:
www.etuc.org/a/6789
Recent resolutions and positions of the ETUC
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Resolution on climate change, new
industrial policies and ways out of the
crisis (2009)
http://www.etuc.org/a/6595
Position on the financing and
management of climate policies (2010)
http://www.etuc.org/a/7396
Resolution “A sustainable new deal for
the ETUC and with a view towards the
Cancun summit” (2010)
http://www.etuc.org/a/7744
Resolution on the energy strategy for
Europe 2011-2020 (2010)
http://www.etuc.org/a/7953
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Resolution on COP17 and Durban
(October 2011)
http://www.etuc.org/a/9159
Resolution on Rio+20: Strengthening
the social dimension of sustainable
development (October 2011)
http://www.etuc.org/a/9162
Resolution “Putting just transition into
action in Europe and globally: ETUC
position towards Qatar COP18” (June
2012)
http://www.etuc.org/a/10041
ETUC resolution on the efficient use of
natural resources (December 2012)
http://www.etuc.org/a/10652
Our Green Workplace guides: http://www.etuc.org/a/10376 (shopfloor) &
http://etuc.org/a/9751 (union officers)