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.
EPSU’s Utilities Committee promotes just transition while condemning liberalisation
The concept of Just Transition was at the heart of the discussion at the EPSU’s Utilities Standing Committee where decarbonisation and digitalisation of the European economy were deeply debated amongst members.
Trump’s decision to withdraw from Paris Climate Change Agreement underlines importance Just Transition
The US government has announced it will withdraw the US from the Climate Change Agreement signed in December 2015. The US President denied any responsibility of the US for historic and current levels of carbon emissions.
EPSU, environmental and civil society organisations demand ECB stops funding polluting corporations
EPSU and 70 European civil society organisations are calling on the European Central Bank (ECB) to stop channeling more quantitative easing funds towards polluting multinational corporations.
Paris Climate Agreement enters into force – More needs to be done on Just Transition says EPSU
(4 November 2016) With governments representing 55% of global CO2 emissions having now committed to the Paris Climate Agreement it enters into force 4 November 2016. The governments that signed