CLIMATE CHANGE AND LOAD SHEDDING: DO TRADE UNIONS HAVE A ROLE. Marylyn Christianson

Transcription

1 CLIMATE CHANGE AND LOAD SHEDDING: DO TRADE UNIONS HAVE A ROLE Marylyn Christianson

2 INTRODUCTION Archbishop Desmond Tutu, on the eve of the recent UN Climate Summit in September 2014 gave an impassioned plea: I fought apartheid now climate change is our global enemy. Tutu argued that the tactics used against firms that did business with South Africa must now be applied to fossil fuels and that no one should profit from suffering. He reasoned further that [n]ever before in history have human beings been called on to act collectively in defence of the earth reducing our carbon footprint is not just a scientific necessity it is emerging as the human rights challenge of our time. Desmond Tutu Viewpoint in The Observer (UK) 21 September 2014 at 40.

3 TRADE UNIONS AND DEMOCRACY In the 1980s when black people were disenfranchised under apartheid and the tactics referred to by Archbishop Tutu were being used to fight against inequality, it was the labour movement in South Africa that offered a voice to those who were disenfranchised, treated unfairly and unequally in the workplace. (Le Roux & van Niekerk The SA Law of Unfair Dismissal (1994) 1) It is therefore appropriate that we examine what is being done by this same movement in 2015 in the struggle against climate change, for energy democracy and transition to a green economy. Le Roux and van Niekerk 'The law of Unfair Dismissal' 1984 at 1

4 WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE? The Oxford Dictionary defines climate change as changes in the earth s weather, including changes in temperature, wind patterns and rainfall, especially the increase in the temperature of the earth s atmosphere that is caused by the increase of particular gases, especially carbon dioxide (or carbon emissions which means the same as greenhouse gas emissions)

5 WHAT ARE GREENHOUSE GASES? The South African National Energy Act 34 of 2008 states that greenhouse gases means gases present in the atmosphere which reduce the loss of heat into space and thereby contributing to an increase in global temperatures through a process known as the greenhouse effect The oceans, forests and plants act as carbon sinks absorbing and storing more carbon dioxide (CO2) than give off oxygen which we need to breath. The amount of gases has been stable enough for survival but this is now changing COSATU policy document on climate change p19

6 SIX DECADES OF CLIMATE CHANGE TALKS 1965: US President s Advisory Committee Panel warns that the Greenhouse effect is real concern 1988: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is set up 1990: IPCC 1 st assessment concludes that CO2 from burning of fossil fuels is raising global temperatures 1992: Earth Summit in RIO: countries commit to stabilise GHG 1997: Kyoto Summit: Developed nations pledge to cut carbon emissions by 5% but US Senate will NOT ratify the Treaty 2001: IPCC 3 rd assessment report with stronger evidence that GHG emissions causing global warming 2006: Stern Review that climate change could damage GDP by 20% 2007: IPCC 4 th assessment concludes it is more than 90% likely that GHG emissions are changing the climate 2009: Copenhagen summit of 192 governments they fail to produce agreement on carbon emissions 2013: IPCC 5 th assessment report says scientists 95% certain that humans have been the dominant cause of global warming since 1950

7 THE UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE (UNFCCC): CONFERENCE OF PARTIES (COP) COP 15 Copenhagen 2009: climate change policy elevated to new level with 115 countries attending COP17 Durban 2011 (COSATU Policy 2011) was the second largest meeting of its kind and the outcomes included a decision by Parties to adopt a universal legal agreement on climate change as soon as possible, and no later than 2015 RIO + 20 in 2012 in Brazil 20 years after the 1992 UN Earth Summit in RIO very few of the development goals in food security, water, energy, global warming had been reached COP 18 Doha 2012 where negotiators only made incremental progress

8 THE UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE (UNFCCC): CONFERENCE OF PARTIES (COP) COP 19 in Warsaw in 2013: Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage means that developed nations will be committed to providing expertise and aid to countries who suffer from climate related impacts COP 20 Lima 2014 where a delicate balance between the parties needed to be reached and it was held that The Durban outcome recognized, in its spirit and intention, that smart government policy, smart business investment, and the demands of an informed citizenry, all motivated by an understanding of mutual self interest, must go hand in hand in pursuit of the common goal. COP 21 will be in Paris in 2015 a significant year for UNFCCC agreement

9 BREAKING NEWS: BUSINESS DAY 3 AUGUST OBAMA TO UNVEIL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS In the strongest action taken in US to combat climate change President Obama will unveil (today) a set of environmental regulations devised to sharply cut planet warming greenhouse gas emissions from the nation s power plants and ultimately transform the US s electricity industry (p4) The regulations are tougher than those proposed in 2012 and could shut down hundreds of coal fired power plants, freeze construction of new coal plants and create a boom in the production of wind and solar power and other renewable energy sources The aim is to push electricity utilities to invest more quickly in renewable sources, raising to 28% (from 22%) the share of generating capacity from such sources.

10 INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION MOVEMENT: THE GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE The Global Union Research Network (GURN) under the auspices of the ILO produced the Employment Effects of Climate Change and Climate Change Responses: A Role for International Labour Standards in 2009 The discussion paper examined how international labour standards could be made more relevant to climate change in terms of its impact on employment and the labour market It looked at the tourism and agriculture industries in terms of the transition to a low carbon economy using policy coherence, good governance and international labour standards to support the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development

11 THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON EMPLOYMENT In 2008 at the time of global financial crisis the ILO, ITUC, IOE and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) wrote an important report on Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable Low Carbon World This report highlights the potential for job creation and transformation of existing jobs particularly in tourism and agriculture The report highlights certain ILO standards such as health and safety, social protection, training, education, migration, employment, freedom of association, social dialogue and tripartite consultation

12 THE NEED FOR GLOBAL STANDARDS At the time of the UNEP report countries were negotiating a new climate regime for the period after 2012 when the first round of commitments of the Kyoto protocol came to an end Countries such as Japan, Canada and Australia were reluctant to have a second commitment period The Report encouraged the inclusion of just transition measures that respected international labour standards in future political decisions about climate change after 2012 The report also endorsed a rights based approach that stressed that standards needed to be applied globally to protect vulnerable populations from the adverse effects of climate change

13 TRADE UNION MOVEMENT IN USA: ENERGY DEMOCRACY The failure to reach a global climate agreement or to establish firm sustainability commitments at Rio+20 is indicative of the political strength of the fossil fuel agenda and business as usual we face an energy emergency of global proportions which has serious implications for communities, workers, the climate and the environment more broadly Many workers in the energy sector do not have union representation and lack basic workers rights and other serious social issues such as inequality and access and consumption of energy Cornell University ILR School The Worker Institute: Sean Sweeney Resist, Reclaim, Restructure: Unions and the Struggle for Energy Democracy (2013)

14 CANADIAN TRADE UNIONS: Jobs versus Environment Dilemma (Rathzal & Uzzell Global Environmental Change (2011) 21: ) Trade unions are actively engaging with the climate change agenda and formulating climate change policies. Although governments are placing considerable effort on changing consumer behaviour, arguably the most significant impacts on climate change will be through changes in production. Even changes in consumption will have consequences for production. Changes in production will affect workers through the loss of jobs, the changing of jobs, and the creation of new jobs. The jobs versus environment dilemma is a significant issue affecting workers worldwide. Can trade unions be re invented as social movements?

15 SOUTH AFRICAN CONSTITUTION: SECTION 24 ENVIRONMENT: EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT (a) to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing; and (b) to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations through reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation; promote conservation; and secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economical and social development

16 BUT IS CLIMATE CHANGE A TRADE UNION ISSUE? COSATU, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, has argued in its Policy Framework on Climate Change in 2011 that climate change is part of a larger economic and ecological crisis which represents a serious challenge for the working class in general and the trade union movement in particular. COSATU had resolved as early as 2009 that climate change is one of the greatest threats to our planet and our people and noted further that it is the working class, the poor and developing countries that will be adversely affected by climate change.

17 COSATU POLICY: WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE? Climate change is NOT only about change in weather patterns Climate change is NOT something in the distant future People all over the world are already experiencing droughts, floods, volatile rainfall and rising sea levels which threaten global health, jobs, lifestyle and in some cases even survival Climate change is caused by our present system of production, distribution and consumption, a system which is both unjust and unsustainable and the need for a just transition to a low carbon economy and to elevate the needs of the working class and poor in social and economic changes ahead is acknowledged COSATU policy on climate change at 1

18 COSATU PRINCIPLES ON CLIMATE CHANGE PRINCIPLE 1: Capitalist accumulation has been the underlying cause of excessive greenhouse gas emissions and therefore global warming and climate change PRINCIPLE 2: A new low carbon development path is needed which addresses the need for decent jobs and the elimination of unemployment PRINCIPLE 3: Food insecurity must be urgently addressed PRINCIPLE 4: All South Africans have the right to energy PRINCIPLE 5: All South Africans have the right to clean water PRINCIPLE 6: We need a massive ramping up of public transport in South Africa

19 COSATU PRINCIPLES ON CLIMATE CHANGE PRINCIPLE 7: The impact of climate change on health must be dealt with in the context of the demand for universal access to health PRINCIPLE 8: A just transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy is required PRINCIPLE 9: We need a carbon budget for South Africa PRINCIPLE 10:African solidarity is imperative PRINCIPLE 11: A legally binding international agreement designed to limit temperature increases to 1.5 C is essential as part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process PRINCIPLE 12:COSATU rejects market mechanisms to reduce carbon emissions PRINCIPLE 14: There is a need for technology development and technology transfers should not be fettered by intellectual property rights

20 COSATU PRINCIPLES ON CLIMATE CHANGE PRINCIPLE 13: Developed countries must pay for their climate debt and the Green Climate Fund must be accountable Developed countries have less than 20% of world population but emit 75% GHG emissions (10 x more emissions per person than developing countries) The Green Climate Fund should provide funding through direct grants and NOT loans which tend to create debt & increase impoverishment Gender equality should underpin the operation of the Fund PRINCIPLE 15: The South African Government s position in the UNFCCC processes must fully reflect the interests of the people Governments should inform the population of their countries about what options for climate change are available to them in an understandable way There should be a real process of consultation within the population of the country and include not only private and business interests but also grass roots movements Need to keep government to an African position and develop of set of common demands and principles with other interest groups

21 COSATU PRINCIPLES RE CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY PRINCIPLE 11: A legally binding international agreement designed to limit temperature increases to 1.5 C is essential as part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process ITUC has demanded an international agreement that is FAIR, AMBITIOUS BINDING and COSATU agrees with these demands The Kyoto protocol was reached by 37 countries (excluding USA) in 1997 and came into force in 2005 and committed these countries to emission reduction targets & carbon trading mechanisms for period to 2012 The future of Kyoto protocol discussed at COP 17 in Copenhagen and a pledge and review (rather than regulatory) system preferred by some countries COSATU rejected this option in 2011

22 COSATU PRINCIPLES RE CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY PRINCIPLE 13: Developed countries must pay for their climate debt and the Green Climate Fund must be accountable Developed countries have less than 20% of world population but emit 75% GHG emissions (10 x more emissions per person than developing countries) The Green Climate Fund should provide funding through direct grants and NOT loan which tend to create debt & increase impoverishment Gender equality should underpin the operation of the Fund

23 COSATU PRINCIPLES RE CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY PRINCIPLE 15: The South African Government s position in the UNFCCC processes must fully reflect the interests of the people Governments should inform the population of their countries about what options for climate change are available to them in an understandable way There should be a real process of consultation within the population of the country and include not only private and business interests but also grass roots movements Need to keep government to an African position and develop of set of common demands and principles with other interest groups

24 DOES CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON LOAD SHEDDING? Load shedding in SA is estimated to cost the economy R11bn per month and have resulted in to investor confidence and social trust (The Star 4 Aug 2015) It is seen primarily as a result of poor management of infrastructure maintenance and development side by side with a vastly increased demand for energy and electricity. If Medupi Power station finished soon this may restore some credibility and investor confidence. Climate change is therefore not the primary cause of the current load shedding although the excessive use of fossil fuel such as coal has an obvious impact on climate change as witnessed by the recent regulations unveiled by President Obama yesterday

25 THE ELECTRICITY WAR ROOM The War Room was established by Cabinet, under the leadership of the Deputy President, to address Eskom s leadership and governance challenges The War Room was seeking ways to stabilise Eskom and the national grid and advance energy efficiency in our country using the coalfired power stations in our country as this was the cheapest way to keep the lights on The War room is comprised of various Ministries and has held meetings with various stakeholders including BUSA and SACCI provides feedback to NEDLAC and the social partners The War Room is not addressing issues of climate change per se

26 SO HOW CAN TRADE UNIONS PLAY A ROLE? Co operative governance involving all stakeholders on climate change in the workplace nationally and internationally Establish Workplace Forums statutory or non statutory or an equivalent joint problem solving or decision making structure to discuss how to educate leaders and workers in climate change and how to manage possible job losses and create new jobs? Promote practices as policy in the workplace and ensure behaviour change in members and leaders

27 SO HOW CAN TRADE UNIONS PLAY A ROLE? Bargain for skills training in new technologies and machinery Plan for the transition to low carbon economy and for the creation of decent jobs Ensure that health issues and diseases related to climate change are acknowledged and dealt with by employers and government Demand improved energy generation while at the same time advocate planning for renewable energy alternatives Network regionally and internationally and continue to educate and be educated on new developments Be passionate about caring for the environment

28 CONCLUSION Naomi Klein, a Canadian writer, at the launch of a new trade union said climate change when its full economic and moral implications are properly understood is the most powerful weapon (trade unionists and their allies) have ever had in the fight for equality and justice for all It is a civilizational wake up call. It is perhaps time for our trade unions to take the COSATU Policy on Climate Change seriously and use it to reinvent themselves as a social movement of significance Archbishop Tutu said reducing our carbon footprint is not just a scientific necessity it is emerging as the human rights challenge of our time