Sustainability at the core of ‘Changing Europe Together’
ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow says sustainability is achievable despite lack of political leadership
ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow, told the UNI Europa Regional Conference that the sustainable development goals (Agenda 30) combined with the Paris agreement on climate ‘chart a course for a zero poverty zero carbon world.’
However Burrow said to reach that goal required a massive systemic industrial transformation faster and deeper than at any time in history.
“We demand that it be a just transition. But with governments still pursuing austerity and labour market deregulation measures, still cowering to the greed of corporations and with the exception of the few not engaging unions in national planning for transition the road looks very bumpy.”
Burrow said the current reality was record levels of unemployment, inequality and precarious work with the wealth going to the top and no sign of the so-called ‘trickle-down effect.’
“The greed of the 1% is out of control – And if we have any doubts look at how hard they will fight – the campaign by conservative forces in Brazil against Lula and a democratically elected government, with public trial by right wing media is the latest example.”
Similarly and closely linked was the lack of real action by governments on climate change.
“For a world where 90% of disasters are climate related and contributing to even greater poverty and inequality the lack of urgency in public discourse yet alone action is frightening.
“For the unions it is simple. There are no jobs on a dead planet. This is much more than a slogan for us. We are already witnessing the loss of lives and livelihoods.
“We know there are jobs in action on climate, millions of jobs. With infrastructure investment projected to be US $50 trillion by 2030 and $90 trillion by 2050. This means jobs but we need a just transition.”
Turning to the refugee crisis, Burrow denounced as unacceptable those who express the xenophobic ‘fortress Europe’ view and said welcoming the refugees was a question of humanity.
Burrow concluded, “If we don’t pick up the pace we could lose the battle on poverty and inequality and face increased social division that is already eating at the heart of stable democracies and our communities. We could lose the fight against climate change with even more horrendous consequences for the human species. The future is in our hands – will we fight for it.”