27 young workers came together from across South & South East Asia to discuss climate change during a seminar in Lonavala, India held at the NUSI training centre (National Union of Seafarers of India) on 26-27 November 2013. One outcome from the seminar was a statement (see below) to the S&SE Asian young transport workers conference, where the young workers called for urgent measures to ensure just transition to a sustainable transport system and promote public transport based on targeted commitment to reduce emissions.

During the seminar, the participants discussed the impact of climate change in Asia Pacific, transport emissions and pollution and how these are regulated and a case study on the dumping of hazardous waste in India ports was presented to the group.

The speaker from Toxics Watch Alliance talked about the causes of climate change and the link between the economic and environmental crises, of declining labour conditions, increasing causalisation and informalisation of the workforce and environmental degradation. He highlighted the UN principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibility’ for countries, with the global north having greater obligations because of historical emissions.

Examples of other ITF union campaigns on climate change were explained, before the young workers developed ideas for their own action plans and prepared the statement to go to the conference.

Statement to the South & South East Asian young workers conference:

This South & South East Asian climate change seminar for young workers, held on 26-27 November in Lonavala, India:

RECALLS the UNFCCC work on climate change and the ITF resolution passed at Mexico City congress, 2010 on climate change,

RECALLS the deliberations of ITF affiliates in previous seminars in South Africa for young workers, in Thailand and Uganda,

NOTES that urgent measures need to be taken to ensure a just transition to a sustainable transport system based on targeted commitment to reduce emissions,

NOTES the importance of promoting quality public transport systems,

NOTES that there is deep concern about climate change for trade unions and in particular for young workers as the future leaders of our unions,

RESOLVES to initiate the debate on the climate crisis within trade union movement following the seminar,

PROPOSES that unions take immediate action by creating awareness, developing campaigns among workers and encourage debate within our union structures,

PROPOSES that unions lobby and negotiate with government and employers for policy on climate change and GHG emission reductions, and

PROPOSES that there is an active trade union involvement in UN negotiations on climate change.

The seminar was funded by LO-TCO, Sweden as part of an education project on climate change and transport”

For more information on the ITF’s work on climate change, visit www.itfclimatejustice.org

For more information on the South & South East Asian young workers conference , visit http://www.youngworkersblog.org/?p=976

To read the blog by Gopal Krishna, Toxics Watch Alliance, visit http://www.toxicswatch.org/2013/11/globalisation-of-capital-causes-climate.html