CAW President tells Environment Minister to Show Leadership, Get Climate Deal
Done in Copenhagen
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The Canadian government has received a wave of international criticism in recent weeks, including from UN Secretary Ban-ki Moon, on its poor performance in dealing with climate change.
Lewenza said that the Canadian experience during the recent period of global economic and environmental transformation has so far been dismal, with over half a million jobs lost and growing insecurity, instability and precariousness in the labour market.
"Our federal government has made few meaningful inroads in developing clean energy technologies and implementation strategies," Lewenza said.
"The global economic crisis has provided (the federal) government the opportunity to advance an agenda that both tackles our environmental crisis and rebuilds our economy on the basis of sustainability. But this opportunity clearly has not been seized, and to the detriment of all Canadians."
Lewenza has joined with other trade union leaders in
"This new deal must put the world on a clear path toward sustainability that will ensure the survival of all peoples."
A full copy of the letter is attached below.
December 3, 2009
The Honourable Jim Prentice Via Fax: 819-953-0279
Minster of the Environment
Les Terrasses de la Chaudière
10 Wellington Street, 28th Floor
Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3
Dear Minister Prentice,
On behalf of the over 225,000 CAW members across Canada I am writing to
encourage you, and your team of negotiators, to ensure a new global
climate agreement is reached during the UNFCCC/COP15 talks in Copenhagen
this year.
Canada's approach heading in to these negotiations has so far been
disappointing, despite the fact that a new climate deal appears
increasingly within reach. Prime Minister Stephen Harper's insistence
that achieving a legally binding climate deal in Copenhagen is an
unrealistic goal is entirely counterproductive and signifies a lack of
ambition on Canada's part to tackle this vitally important issue.
Never before has there been a more urgent need for the international
community to come together and negotiate a legally-binding and aggressive
deal to sustainably adapt to the harmful and devastating effects of
global climate change. Not only must this deal follow the science-based
targets for emission reductions (25-40% emission reductions by 2020 and
at least 80% reductions by 2050 at 1990 levels) set by the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) it must be fair, just
and equitable.
As a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol, this new deal must put
the world on a clear path toward sustainability that will ensure the
survival of all peoples. It must also work to ensure the preservation of
all societies, especially those most vulnerable. Additionally, as one of
its core tenets, the deal must establish aggressive language that
maintains the integrity of jobs for all working people faced with
displacement caused by climate change.
Unfortunately, during this most recent period of global economic and
environmental transformation the experience in Canada has so far been
dismal. Over half of a million Canadians have lost their jobs in the past
year alone and few are able to find decent, stable work. At the same time
Canada's carbon footprint has continued to grow. Prior to the recent
global economic recession emission levels were situated at an
embarrassing 22% above 1990 levels - well above our country's Kyoto
emission reduction commitments of 6% below 1990 levels.
Our federal government has made few meaningful inroads in developing
clean energy technologies and implementation strategies. They have
watched as our once world-leading manufacturing sector has been whittled
away without fully utilizing existing capacity to invest in new green
manufacturing opportunities, including new green car production. And they
have not heeded the call for a substantial injection of funds to boost
public infrastructure, including transit, at a level that will have a
substantial and positive impact on working people.
The global economic crisis has provided your government the opportunity
to advance an agenda that both tackles our environmental crisis and
rebuilds our economy on the basis of sustainability. But this opportunity
clearly has not been seized, and to the detriment of all Canadians.
Canada must now show leadership, both at home and internationally, to
ensure the international community can collectively make the successful
transformation toward sustainability. As we approach the final round of
UN climate talks, in accordance with the negotiating timeline laid out in
Bali in 2007, a strong and ambitious climate agreement in Copenhagen will
be a vital and necessary start.
Additionally, as you head into negotiations over the coming weeks, I urge
you to ensure any new climate deal maintains the call for "just
transition for the workforce which creates decent work and quality jobs"
as it currently appears in the draft negotiating text under paragraph 9
of the Shared Vision Non Paper (No.43).
I also encourage you to add a definition of "stakeholders" or "civil
society", following the agreed definitions from Agenda 21, as a means to
recognize trade unions as relevant stakeholders in these international
negotiations.
In respect to both of these demands, our union stands in solidarity with
other trade unions in Canada and around the world.
The debate on the existence of climate change is over. We are seeing
first hand the severe environmental consequences of a business-as-usual
approach to unsustainable levels of carbon emissions in the atmosphere.
From melting ice caps in the Arctic, to increasing severe weather
patterns around the world, to the steadily declining land mass and
eventual extinction of small island states, our fragile ecosystems will
not wait for world leaders to make the necessary effort to effectively
combat this global crisis.
Canada has been at the forefront of many important global initiatives in
the past, including our brave stance on the Landmine Ban Treaty and the
Montreal Protocol on reversing ozone depletion in 1987. Now is the time
to reflect on those victories and chart a new course that re-examines
Canada's current role in multilateral and diplomatic efforts.
Canada must commit to play a leadership role in the international climate
negotiations through the UNFCCC. And our negotiators must be given a
clear mandate to reach a meaningful climate deal in Copenhagen.
I anticipate your support of these proposals during the upcoming round of
climate negotiations at COP15 and in working with the CAW and other trade
unions in Canada to address this crucial issue of climate change and
transition support measures for workers.
I look forward to your reply and am happy to discuss this matter with you
at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
(signed)
Ken Lewenza
President, CAW
KL/AD/jwcope343
cc: David McGuinty, Liberal Party Environment and Energy Critic
Linda Duncan, NDP Environment Critic
Bernard Bigras, Bloc Quebecois Environment Critic
Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada
Ken Georgetti, Canadian Labour Congress President
CAW National Executive Board
Assistants to the President
For further information: Angelo DiCaro, CAW Communications, (416) 606-6311; or Peggy Nash, Assistant to the CAW National President, (416) 333-8097
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