The two parties agree that the success of COP21 in Paris this December depends on a shared understanding over the crucial links between sustainable development, economic growth and climate responsibility, and the promotion of collaboration and coordination. As a result both are certain that a universal climate agreement will only be successful if local authorities, a range of businesses and organisations and communities, also pledge to be climate leaders.
UITP Secretary General Alain Flausch said: “What both UITP and ITF recognise is that taking climate action via public transport represents one of the biggest economic opportunities of the 21st century. That’s at the heart of this joint declaration to work together to develop high standards of vocational training, high standards of job security, to work to reduce informal employment and to improve public transport. This will help promote the development, expansion and use of quality public transport globally.”
Chair of the ITF’s climate justice working group Asbjørn Wahl said: “An undertaking from both employers and employees to be climate leaders - just like we are giving today - can help parties deliver on their commitments to expand public transport and scale up ambition which can create cleaner cities, stimulate investment and build momentum for change at COP21 and beyond. That’s going to be of benefit to workers, communities and the environment.”
ENDS
The trade union conference on climate and jobs runs 14-15 September in Paris hosted by the International Trade Union Confederation and the Climate Jobs campaign.
Access more information on the UITP climate change Action Agenda
Please visit the ITF climate justice blog for a speech given by Asbjørn Wahl during the trade union conference on climate and jobs and to access information on the ITF climate action day on 5 October.
