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Unions’ involvement in climate change solutions is crucial
6 June 2008
 |  |  view larger image | | | German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaking at the International Transport Forum meeting in Leipzig | |
Transport workers have a vital role to play in the development of sustainable transport policies that can help to tackle climate change and unions must be directly involved. That was the view of ITF General Secretary David Cockroft following his participation in a small union delegation at the annual meeting of the International Transport Forum.
Commonly referred to in union circles as “the other ITF”, the forum held its meeting in Leipzig, Germany, on 28-30 May. The organisation, formerly known as the Conference of European Ministers of Transport, changed its name and adopted a global scope last year when it was launched by transport ministers from 51 member countries. Its job is to provide business and civil society with the opportunity to debate transport sector issues with government representatives. The theme for this year's founding conference was transport, energy and climate change.
During the meeting, it became clear that technological solutions to the impact of transport on climate change (whether through biofuels or electric vehicles) were not enough. There was an urgent need for changes in the behaviour of drivers, systemic changes in the way international transport is organised to reduce unnecessary fuel usage, and a major shift to transport modes that produce less CO2. Of particular importance was the effect of transport in developing countries, which could not be expected to restrict growth while richer countries continued with high per capita emissions.
Commenting on the forum discussions, David Cockroft said: "Sustainable transport is of vital importance to transport workers and transport users globally. Solutions raised at the forum, like more energy-efficient transport technologies, changed behaviour in passenger transport and reducing emissions from goods transport, are important, but unless they take proper account of the employment and workplace issues they won't get the backing of the workers engaged in transport which they need to succeed. While not the biggest contributor to global warming, transport has the fastest growing rate of emissions worldwide. Unions, governments and responsible employers need to work together for a socially and environmentally sustainable transport system. This was a major step forward in policy making but with only a small participation from transport unions. When the next forum meets in 2009 to discuss transport and globalisation, I hope that both ITFs will be working more closely for the same objectives."
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