News

Subject: Environment - Work in Progress



Submitted by: SETCA, Belgium

Motion Text:

UNI-Europa Youth urges for a reduction of Europe’s ecological footprint. Europe’s economies are contributing to ongoing problems of over-exploitation, unequal distribution and degradation of global natural resources. These problems are caused by clinging to the status quo and systematic prioritisation of short-term efficiency goals over and above long term goals such as sustainability and equity.



UNI-Europa Youth endorses the spirit of the declaration of Tilburg (march 2008) witch includes:



“We, the youth of Europe, call upon a radical re-orientation of our economies. This call is motivated by the fast-growing urgency of global issues, such as climate change, resource depletion, the persistence of wide-spread poverty and increasing global inequality. The urgency of these issues forces us to discuss a necessary transition of all wealthy economies, thus also those of Europe.



No matter how fundamental such a reorientation or trend break as we envisage it will be, it will not bring about a decrease in human welfare. On the contrary, it will protect us from even bigger future problems, such as health hazards, environmental degradation, a further increase in the global poverty gap, and armed conflicts and refugee movements. We are in the convenient position that a directional change is currently still possible.



We urge for a radical change of our economies, a change that – in a relatively short period of time - will substantially intervene in the scope and form of our production and trading systems, and money generation and consumption patterns. This change is only possible if supported by a broad alliance of social forces. We invite everyone, in particular political parties, trade unions, businesses, academia and social movements, to take a part in this alliance and take responsibility for the transition towards a truly sustainable economy based on solidarity.”

We urge the UNI Youth Europa Steering Group to take the necessary actions in order to raise the awareness of this issue amongst our political, economical and union leaders for this case. This item must be put high on all trade union agenda’s.

Adopted with changes