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EU trade unions and the transition to low carbon industry: an opportunity to create jobs
By Elizabeth Perry - Work and Climate Change Report, October 11, 2016
In introducing a new report on October 5, the Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said, “Most trade unions see the transition to low-carbon industry as an opportunity to create industrial growth and jobs, but many workers understandably fear widespread job losses.” The report, Industrial regions and climate policies: towards a just transition? , summarizes the results of questionnaire sent to ETUC affiliates in 17 countries. 31 responses were received, and the report provides case studies from seven, in the following regions: Yorkshire and the Humber in the UK, North Rhine Westphalia in Germany, Asturias in Spain, Antwerp area in Belgium, Norbotten in Sweden, Stara Zagora in Bulgaria, and Silesia in Poland. They generally provide an overview of the low-carbon policies of unions, government policies, and union involvement with policy formation in each region. Overall in the EU, responses indicated trade unions were involved in the development process of a national industrial strategy in 75% of cases, usually through tripartite bodies. There were few responses regarding training initiatives. In conclusion, the ETUC calls for a socially just transition to low-carbon economy which will include consultation and participation of trade unions and employers to manage decarbonization of industry; accelerated deployment of breakthrough low-carbon technologies; investment in skills for a socially just transition to a low-carbon economy; attention to the social impacts of decarbonization .
This report updates the information from a 2014 report, and is the result of a two-year research project.
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