Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund

Combatting climate change is one of the core challenges humankind faces in this century. It requires concerted action by all states to implement sustainable development worldwide and to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change. The latest IPCC assessment report has confirmed yet again that we have to change our lifestyles and economies if we are to preserve the natural system on which the human species depends. The paramount aim is that the world community adopt a new, globally binding climate treaty to ensure that the 2°C target is not exceeded. Prosperity and development must be fostered as part of the necessary transition. This means gearing innovations so that industry, commerce and services are reshaped into a sustainable economic system. Climate policy entails much more than environmental policy and must always involve peace, development and economic policy as well. Climate policy thus plays a key role in the struggle against global poverty and the root causes of migration and flight.

The trade unions in Germany therefore call on the German government and the world community,

1. To work in Paris towards a just, ambitious and globally accepted treaty.

An ambitious treaty forms the basis for medium- and long-term emissions reductions and for sustainable adaptation to the impacts of climate change. Governments must base their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) for combatting climate change on the necessity of limiting the global temperature increase to less than 2°C. A globally accepted and legally binding treaty is imperative if the burdens are to be fairly and equitably shared, and to prevent distortion of competition. A binding ratchet mechanism must also be codified, specifying scheduled reviews of the reduction commitments of all states, should it prove that the adopted measures are insuffi cient to achieve the targets. To boost investment in climate-friendly technologies, global pricing of CO2 should also be stipulated.

2. To ensure that global adaptation to climate change is appropriately financed.

In addition to their planned contributions to the reduction of emissions, the developed countries must also provide suffi cient funds to help developing countries cope with the consequences of climate change and develop a low-carbon economy. Governments of industrialised nations must clearly show how they intend to honour their commitment to mobilise USD 100 billion annually until 2020. Achieving that is a precondition for developing countries and newly-industrialising countries to be able to invest in renewable energies and in energy effi ciency, so as to shape the economic development they need for the future in a climate-friendly way.

3. To ensure that the transition to a low-carbon economy is plannable over the medium and long term.

The necessary transition poses enormous challenges for the industrialised nations. If that transition is ultimately to succeed, the process must be planned and implemented on a medium- and long-term basis. It is crucially important within that process that due consideration be given to the interests of workers. To this end, interim goals that are clear, legally binding and intermeshing must be formulated at national, European and international level. No country can go it alone in the fight against climate change. Continuous dialogue, combined with reliable and coordinated planning for the medium and long term are absolutely imperative, therefore, in order to preclude resistance, avoid exclusion and to get all the relevant interest groups on board. This is the only way to harmonise worker interests and development towards a low-carbon economy.

4. To codify in the climate treaty the goal of a just transition, for workers, to a low-carbon economy.

Climate protection must not result in workers bearing the brunt, or in uncontrolled job cuts. Instead, employment and climate protection must be viewed in combination, in order to realise the opportunities, engendered by the transition to a low-carbon economy, for safeguarding existing jobs and creating new ones. In that regard, a broad-ranging innovation strategy is of key importance for advancing new technologies, products and services along the respective value chains. Wherever jobs are lost, it is essential to conclude legally binding transition strategies. This is the only way to generate acceptance and the great opportunity to master the transition successfully through joint action.

5. To ensure that decent work is a guiding principle for societal change.

Job quality in many of the new "green" industries is still far from what trade unions defi ne as decent work, in many cases. On the contrary – poor wages and working conditions, lack of social security and the exclusion of trade unions are by no means rare, unfortunately, in the new green sectors of the economy. If workers are to play an active part in the transition, new jobs must also be good jobs. Worker codetermination at enterprise and supervisory board level are essential for that process. Working conditions in many traditional enterprises in Germany may provide some pointers for how to achieve decent work in this way.

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