Global week of action for climate justice

June 1 to 7, 2015

With growing demand for climate action around the world, CUPE is calling on the Canadian government to step up its role on climate change ahead of the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference set to take place this December in Paris.

As part of an International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) initiative, CUPE sent a letter to Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq on June 1, outlining demands aimed at securing a strong global climate agreement to protect workers against the impacts of climate change. These include:

• Supporting a just, ambitious and binding agreement at the next UN Climate Change Conference;
• Retaining the references to the commitment to a Just Transition for workers – ensuring that the agreement reached will guide climate action by connecting it to the real world; and,
• Committing to the development of a national energy plan which will decarbonise the economy and secure jobs.

At CUPE’s 2011 National Convention, members adopted a resolution to develop an environmental policy to give direction to the union on climate change and set a course for future environmental work. It also provided direction on positions we take with governments to overcome the environmental crisis.

CUPE joins the international community in mobilizing to hold our leaders accountable in delivering a strong global agreement on climate change that creates decent jobs and reduces inequalities. Our future depends on it.

To see what others around the world are doing visit: Global week of action for climate