Unions press for action on climate change

As world leaders gather in Paris this week, the BlueGreen Alliance, a partnership of U.S. labor unions and environmental organizations, called on countries to reach an international climate agreement that is effective, accountable, and ensures a just transition for workers and communities across the world.

Later this week, National Nurses United will participate in a mass rally in Los Angeles to demand action on climate change.

“It is absolutely critical that countries reach an agreement in Paris over the next few weeks that takes the first step to address climate change,” said Kim Glas, executive director of the BlueGreen Alliance. “We need an agreement that is not only effective in staving off the worst impact of climate change, but one that also ensures fairness and a just transition for workers and communities in the United States and across the world.”

The BlueGreen Alliance outlined several principles for an effective, accountable and just international climate change agreement. Among them, the partnership urged that the agreement set a transformational long-term goal and ensures a review of nations’ commitments every five years to ensure that we are increasing the level of ambition to meet scientific reality.

The BlueGreen Alliance also strongly urged that Just Transition and Decent Work language be included in both the preamble and operational articles of the agreement. Such language acknowledges that the transition to a clean energy economy requires the resources, policies and priorities needed to retool our nation, create family-sustaining jobs, strengthen and grow no- and low-carbon sectors, and ensure communities are healthy and safe.

Thousands of nurses and environmental activists will converge in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday to demand a global agreement that reduces greenhouse gas pollution and supports a sustainable energy future, the union announced.

Organizers predict that the Los Angeles climate action will be even larger than expected since the French government prohibited the mass mobilizations that were planned in Paris, citing the heightened security situation.

The Convergence for Climate Action will take place Thursday, Dec. 3, from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and begins at Pershing Square, 532 Olive Street in Downtown Los Angeles. View a live stream of the rally.

“Nurses in the U.S. and around the world recognize that bold action is needed to challenge the political and economic power of the fossil fuel industry to win health and environmental justice in our communities, to mitigate global warming, and avert a full-scale climate crisis,” said National Nurses United Co-President Deborah Burger, RN. 

“The climate crisis is a public health crisis – it is already causing immeasurable human suffering and social devastation. Whatever the outcome in Paris, nurses will continue to work in our communities, nationally and internationally, to build the movement for environmental and climate justice; the health of our communities and our planet depend on it.”