CLC Policy Paper to the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP 15)

Posted: Thursday, 3 December 2009

It is imperative to reach a strong international agreement: an agreement in which the needs and aspirations of all are taken into account; an agreement that will effectively shape the blueprint for the type of society we wish to build and pass on to future generations.

We need to build a climate of change where root causes of fossil fuel dependence, over production, consumption and trade are recognized and addressed. Real solutions exist. Globally and domestically, we can transition away from fossil fuels to a green economy with decent family-supporting unionized jobs, greater conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable transportation. This requires urgent domestic action, and effective international action.

A fair climate change agreement will provide deep and binding emission reductions by the Global North of at the very least 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020; and 85 percent below 1990 by 2050. A fair climate change agreement means recognizing the rights of indigenous people. A fair climate change agreement means significant contributions to both mitigation and adaptation financing from Global North countries supporting the transition to low carbon economies in the Global South. It is now our responsibility to to assist less-developed countries to follow a clean path to prosperity.

I. The Urgent Need to Act

Canada and the world must address the climate crisis, the most pressing issue of our times, in Copenhagen. This is the eleventh hour and the world needs a strong international climate agreement with deep emission cuts that advances climate justice. Policies that use science-based targets are needed, and need to be quickly implemented to achieve significant reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with science-based targets.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has indicated that to prevent the most catastrophic effects of climate change we must avoid an average global increase of 2°C. To prevent the “tipping point” of a 2°C increase in average global temperatures, Canada and all other Annex I countries, must reduce their total GHG emissions by 25%-40% below 1990 levels by 2020 at the very least.

Canadian trade unionists recognize the urgency of responding to this clear call for action by the IPCC, and strongly support both the 2020 and 2050 targets. We recognize that recent scientific evidence suggests that even these targets may underestimate the gravity of the climate change crisis, and we agree that both the global and national response to climate change must be driven by scientific evidence. We have no time to waste, Copenhagen is our moment.