The global environmental crisis requires a change in production and consumption processes, a new economy for a new development model, a “Green Economy” that is able to ensure decent living and working conditions while at the same time reduces environmental risks and environmental degradation.

It is clear that we must move towards a low carbon economy and the efficient use of natural resources, an economy that prioritises the use of renewable energy, that takes into account the lifecycle of products, that protects and restores ecosystems, that better distributes environmental costs and benefits. It is equally evident that for a Green Economy to be a real opportunity for ending current injustices it must be in keeping with the wider framework of Sustainable Development....that is, it must be consistent with the social and political aspects of sustainability, guaranteeing a Just Transition for all.

The transition towards a Green Economy will not happen overnight and neither will opportunities for decent work be created automatically. As a society, and as trade union organisations, we must defend and drive changes in the desired direction.

In Sustainlabour, we believe that the Green Economy should:

• aim to satisfy human needs: providing universal access to water, food, health, housing, education, transport, culture;
• be based on justice: be capable of distributing the costs and benefits fairly, between and within countries;
• be inclusive: young people, women...everyone must be part of it!
• be a real economy: do away with the speculative economy and the economic, financial and real estate bubbles;
• be based on the four pillars of the Decent Work Agenda: full employment, guarantee labour and trade union rights, social protection, dialogue and participation.

What is Sustainlabour doing?

• We support the participation of trade union organisations in international discussions, such as the preparations for the Rio + 20 summit;
• We contribute to the training of trade union organisations on Sustainable Development and Green Economy issues, through our programmes with UNEP & ILO;
• We raise awareness among workers. More than 2,500 people receive our bulletin and we have over 350,000 visits to our website;
• We promote dialogue among the social partners (governments and employers) and with social movements to advance towards a different model. We started 2011 by holding the “Madrid Dialogue”.

Green Economy: our activities + See more

3 Webinars to get ready for the 2013 International Labour Conference discussion on Green Jobs/Just Transition

On April the 23^rd, the 24^th and the 25^th, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Sustainlabour organized 3 Webinars (online seminars) to introduce the issue and the process to union delegates or union experts interested in doing advocacy work in the capitals prior to the next ILO International Labour Conference

Time for a new social accord: Creating employment, protecting the environment. Experiences from South Africa and the European Union and union proposals

20 February Side event at the First Universal Session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum

Overview of Green Jobs in European Union and South Africa - Compilation report

Creating green and decent work is a common goal for both the European Union and South Africa. These two regions are facing up to an unemployment crisis spiraling out of control which is condemning millions of workers to poverty and social exclusion - with young people being especially hard hit - meaning now is the time to prioritize and widen initiatives to reach this goal. 

 

Resources + See more

Green Jobs and related policy frameworks: An Overview of South Africa

Green Jobs in the European Union: an overview

Un updated version of the Climate Change Manual for Unionists

Green Jobs for a sustainable development: A case study of Spain