Environment/Climate Change
Responding to the challenge of climate change
Climate change, the largest single threat to current and future generations, is posing fundamental challenges for public services and public service workers. In recent years, we have seen extreme weather events, flooding and forest fires for example, leading to loss of life and widespread damage and destruction of buildings and infrastructure. Our members across many services have been part of the immediate and longer term response – in emergency and rescue services, energy and water, local and regional government. EPSU has been working hard to influence policies at global and European level aimed at decarbonising our economies and calling for a shift away from growth at all costs. It is essential that we achieve a more sustainable society is achieved through a just transition whereby no one is left behind.
This briefing, produced for EPSU's 2019 Congress, sets out the federation's recent activity on climate change and current priorities. EPSU has published research focusing on some of the key issues and policy developments including its position on the EU's Green Deal, the failure of energy liberalisation to address climate change and an analysis of action on climate change adaptation.
Ensuring a Just Transition to climate neutrality
Last week, the European Social Partners in the gas sector held a joint webinar, hosted by MEPs Agnes Jongerius (S&D) and Dennis Radtke (EPP), on the transition to climate neutrality and the need to ensure that is just for the workers in the gas sector.
Webinar: safe jobs in the circular economy
Last Friday, 23rd October, Vera Weghmann from the Public Service International Research Unit presented her recent report, “Safe Jobs in the Circular Economy - Health and Safety in Waste and Wastewater Management” in a webinar organised by EPSU
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons receives the 50th ratification needed for entry into force!
On 24 October, Honduras became the 50th UN Member State to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which means the treaty will now come into force on 22 January.