Labor organizations applaud Paris climate agreement

While saying more work needs to be done, labor organizations around the world are applauding the agreement reached at the United Nations climate change summit in Paris.

Kim Glas, executive director of the BlueGreen Alliance, a national partnership of America’s largest labor unions and environmental organizations, called the agreement announced Saturday “a proud moment in world history.”

“While not perfect—the Paris Agreement urges a just transition for impacted workers and underscores the obligation to protect human rights,” Glas said.

“The agreement does right by us all because it sets a goal and structure that could keep our world below 1.5 degree C of warming. The agreement also made significant progress towards helping developing nations fund efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and in ensuring both transparency and verification of everyone’s commitments. Enforcement and follow through are now key.”

The Alliance will continue to work for a “just transition and decent work” language that will create jobs and ensure healthy communities, Glas said.

The International Trade Union Confederation, based in Brussels, said, “The Paris deal recognises the reality of the climate threat, but only takes us part of the way.

“Climate change is already destroying lives and livelihoods with more than 2.6 million people displaced by extreme weather events and changing seasons. This will only get worse.”

ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow said, “Unions will demand of their governments and employers the dialogue that will see a national plan for decarbonisation, clean energy and jobs – a plan that includes commitments to ensure a just transition for all.

“Climate justice requires us to leave no one behind in what is now a race against time.”

The AFL-CIO, the largest U.S. union federation, issued a statement calling the Paris agreement “both sensible and achievable.”

The federation also called for a just transition in the approaches to climate change, stating, “Workers must be at the center of any successful effort to address climate change.”