Trade unions met with the Spanish Minister of Environment and the Director of UNEP to discuss green economy and just transition

The meeting took place in July in the Spanish Ministry of Environment within the presidency of the Administrative Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), currently a responsibility held by the Minister of Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs, Rosa Aguilar.

In addition to the Minister and UNEP´s Director, Achim Steiner, also participating in the meeting was a trade union delegation composed by Judith Kirton-Darling, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and in charge of environment issues, Ignacio Fernández Toxo, Gerenal Secretary of CCOO and the current president of the ETUC, Cándido Méndez, General Secretary of UGT, Laura Martín Murillo, Director of Sustainlabour and Joaquín Nieto, Director of ILO´s office in Spain.

A change in the model of production toward a green, low-carbon economy is necessary as is that it includes workers´ participation. Trade unions are convinced of the need to promote this change and for it, it is fundamental that there be concrete commitments in terms of the promotion of green jobs and that this is done through a just transition for populations that are most vulnerable. In the framework of the meeting preparations, Rio+20 was also discussed.

 

Original article published at www.uncsd2012.org