Brussels, 15/12/2008
The objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% and increasing the share of renewable energy to 20% were confirmed at the European Council on 12 December. With this decision, ETUC finds that the Copenhagen negotiations in December 2009 can be approached on a serious basis.
Taking advantage of the economic crisis, employers upped the pressure and won concessions from the EU heads of state and government.
However, the key questions still need to be addressed, in particular the EU’s financial capacity to invest sufficiently in the 27 countries to reduce CO2 emissions and promote renewable energy sources.
The CO2 emissions trading scheme will not produce sufficient financial resources to meet this investment obligation.
Similarly, no financial instrument has been developed to ensure solidarity with developing countries.
ETUC renews its proposal to put in place a European low-carbon economy adaptation fund to accompany the transitions imposed on workers squeezed out of the workplace due to climate change measures.
ETUC maintains that a genuine social dialogue must get under way. With this aim in mind, it had already requested the creation of an advisory committee on climate change and today renews its call to the European Parliament.
The economic and financial crisis as well as the challenges created by climate change necessitate active employment policies based on the capacity for anticipation, control of social transitions and transparent financing.
These challenges represent a vast realm for social dialogue and negotiations at every level, both territorial and in companies.