NATIONAL
[Ambiguity] on human rights, Just Transition in latest draft
Jeff Johnson, President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, is part of the labor delegation attending the Paris Climate Conference (COP 21), advocating for policies that aggressively address climate change while providing for a “Just Transition” that invests in the communities and working families that will be hardest hit by the transition away from a fossil fuel-based economy.
By JEFF JOHNSON
Special to The Stand
PARIS (Dec. 10, 2015) — In the late afternoon yesterday, another draft of the Paris document was released and it set off major demonstrations and protests from labor and civil society groups.
That’s right even that goal is [bracketed].
TAKE A STAND — At climate negotiations continue in Paris, the language in the agreement to ensure a Just Transition for impacted workers is hanging by a thread. Tell President Obama to make human rights, including the Just Transition of workers, a priority in any final agreement. We need explicit language on Just Transition in this agreement to require that when each country submits its contribution describing how they are addressing climate change, they also have to describe how they are taking into account the impact on workers and communities.
Negotiations continued very late last night with no word yet on additional developments.
Renault-Nissan is a co-sponsor of the COP21 talks, providing free shuttle service in electric cars. Since they are trying to clean wash their image, Sierra Club wanted to set the record straight by pointing out the company’s dirty labor practices.
ALSO see the 2015 Washington State Labor Council resolution on ”Climate and Jobs” approved by delegates representing unions from across the state.