The United Nations designated 26 November world sustainable transport day in recognition of the important role of safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all in supporting sustainable economic growth, improving the social welfare of people and enhancing international cooperation and trade among countries.
The shift to sustainable transport requires a new, global system-wide change to support decarbonisation and resilience plans for each transport sector, driven by an active voice for workers in decision-making.
ITF and transport unions will be taking our demands for investment in sustainable transport, just transition and emissions reductions to governments and employers at COP28 when it starts in Dubai on Thursday.
Transport workers are on the frontline of climate change. We urgently need to build resilient infrastructure to protect lives and livelihoods. Only a worker-led just transition will close the resilience gap. We must raise our climate ambition, deliver on climate finance, and commit to just transition at all levels.
We must make sure that the risks of climate change and the burdens of climate action do not fall on workers. The decarbonisation of the transport sector must be rapid, safe and fair for workers and communities. It must create good union jobs, with decent wages and safe working conditions. This is a just transition.
“ITF unions and transport workers are showing how a worker-led just transition can be done” said Stephen Cotton, ITF general secretary “the ‘future is public transport’ campaign with C40, UITP, and UIC, the ‘jobs and just transition’ pledge with IRU, and the maritime just transition task force are leading the way in showing what can be achieved – in terms of creating decent green jobs, investing in green skills, and creating real opportunities for women and youth - when workers’ voices are heard.
“More than two per cent of total working hours worldwide may be lost every year as a result of climate change, either because it is too hot to work or because workers must work at a slower pace because of the heat. Forty per cent of employment worldwide – 1.2 billion jobs – relies directly on a healthy and stable environment.
“We call on governments and employers in all transport sectors to engage with us on just transition.
“There is no climate justice without worker justice.”
The ITF delegation at COP will include transport workers from trade unions in Algeria, Uganda, New Zealand, and the Philippines who will be raising the issues affecting transport workers across the globe, and demonstrating how worker involvement is driving climate action.
More information on ITF’s sustainable transport position can be found on our website.
ENDS
Media contacts: ITF: media@itf.org.uk
Note: The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP28), will be the 28th United Nations Climate Change conference, held from 30 November until 12 December 2023, at the Expo City, Dubai.
About the ITF: The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is a democratic, affiliate-led federation recognised as the world’s leading transport authority. We fight passionately to improve working lives; connecting trade unions from 147 countries to secure rights, equality and justice for their members. We are the voice for nearly 20 million working women and men in the transport industry across the world.
