COP25 REPORT 6

COP25 REPORT 5

COP25 Report 4

COP25 Report 3

COP25 Report 2

The biggest news of the day for PSI comes from Nolberto Sánchez, General Secretary of CUT Chile. Despite the troubles in his country, he felt it necessary to come to Madrid to share what his country is going through. His message is crystal clear: Everything in his country was sold: rivers, coasts, mines, and just about all public services of consequence. More than 30 years later, the evidence of this neoliberal model is clear – massive inequality, environmental degradation and social unrest.

The video (above) show Nolberto outside the embassy of Chile in Madrid with a crowd of union supporters from the two main Spanish confederations, CCOO and UGT, as well as foreign participants. The demonstration was peaceful, police allowed us to gather on the sidewalk across the street from the embassy office tower.

In the UN Conference, negotiations are intense, many issues are being dealt with behind the scenes, and we will only see the results this Friday.

Many side events are exploring specific issues. Our allies in Via Campesina, Friends of the Earth and indigenous peoples explained the dangers of geo-engineering approaches, which purport to use technology to reduce the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. One presenter showed how carbon capture and storage was developed by the oil companies as a way to extract oil deep underground, but is now being turned into a way to protect the climate by pumping CO2 back in the same holes that were drilled. Thus, these companies get to double their money!

CCOO Madrid offices hosted a meeting of mainly developing country unions to learn about the Green Climate Fund (GCF) which is disbursing accumulated funds estimated at $US 9 billion. The website www.greenclimate.fund can be used to track projects in the 129 countries which have so far received funds. Most unions are unaware of these projects, and the information on the website can help us exercise oversight. As the fund is relatively young, it is still developing procedures and guidelines, and allows CSO observers to participate in the board discussions.

COP25 REPORT 1

Today, I was one of the panellists at the joint ETUC/FES side event "Climate change consequences and the world of work: the adaptation challenge from a trade union perspective".

At the COP25, PSI’s messages will be:

• The climate crisis can only be resolved by strong public institutions that are able to invest in their workers and communities, both to rapidly reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and to prepare for the extreme weather events that are already causing havoc.

• Corporate control of our public institutions contributes to the paralysis blocking planet-wide solutions.

• Countries that have become rich by emitting GHG for over a century must both reduce emissions fastest and contribute financially for developing countries which will likely suffer most from rising oceans and more frequent and extreme weather.

• A Global Green New Deal needs to significantly alter the balance of power between people and planet over profit. UNCTAD’s proposal in their 2019 Trade and Development report lays out a solid analysis and credible proposals.

• Many of PSI priorities impact directly on the climate crisis: tax Justice to fund public services; privatisation blocks decisive actions by government agencies to address social and environmental issues; migration will increase after climate crisis, and governments must protect their human rights.