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Labour unions at the Poznan meetings are firmly committed to emission reductions based on the science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports.
Poznan, Poland (03 Dec. 2009) - This week workers will be urging Poznan delegates to adopt targets designed to keep global temperatures from rising beyond 2 °C.
The IPCC suggests that this goal requires short term targets of 25-40% reduction in emissions below 1990 levels, by 2020. Long-term targets must be set at 85% reductions by 2050.
In Canada, the government's “Turning the Corner” plan seeks to cut emissions by 20 percent below 2006 levels by 2020 and envisages cuts of 60-70% below 2006 by 2050. Applied to the usual Kyoto 1990 benchmark, a 20% cut from 2006 would put emissions 2.7% below 1990 levels by 2020. Is Canada really doing its part?
The Canadian Labour Congress among the labour organizations in attendance in Poznan, will be pressing our government to strengthen their plan and adopt the IPCC emissions reduction targets with 1990 benchmark year.
Labour unions will be emphasizing social justice and equity. With this focus it is important that developing nations are able to negotiate targets based on their particular circumstances; differentiate responsibility. The overarching principle when integrating developing countries into the next protocol, is that the poor should not carry the heaviest burden.