Global Labor Institute Organized a Trade Union Delegation at COP13 in Bali

December 3-14, 2007

Global Climate Conference Bali 2007In December 2007 more than 20 trade unionists from the U.S. participated in the UN’s climate change conference in Bali, Indonesia. The delegation consisted of trade union leaders from SEIU, IUE-CWA, Mineworkers, Steelworkers, Transport Workers, Boilermakers, the AFL-CIO and the Labor Research Association. The group joined an 80-strong contingent led by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).  

This was by far the largest US labor contingent ever to attend these negotiations since their launch in 1994. The heightened U.S. labor presence on the international stage builds on the work unions are doing domestically around climate protection and energy policy at the state and federal levels, which is itself being driven by the understanding that the all-important fight for climate stability will create many good quality union “green” jobs, help rejuvenate manufacturing, and perhaps establish a new set of social priorities. 

Labor’s presence in Bali showed that unions also recognize that, in an economically integrated world, a strong global treaty to reduce emissions is also absolutely essential. No one country’s efforts can stabilize the climate on its own. All the major emitters have a role to play in containing and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. Moreover, unions were in Bali to remind governments, businesses and the rest of civil society that organized labor has a critically important role to play in the transition to a low carbon and sustainable economy. 

For labor movement coverage of the delegation to Bali, see:

 

ILR logo