Conference Will Promote Benefits of Green Economy

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/02/11/conference-will-promote-benefits-of-green-economy/

by James Parks, Feb 11, 2008

The union and environmental movement increasingly are joining together to work on a broad range of issues on our mutually reinforcing goals: moving toward a sustainable environment and creating family-supporting jobs.

At a first-of-its-kind conference next month, “Good Jobs, Green Jobs: A National Green Jobs Conference,” union members, environmental and public health advocates, policymakers, business leaders and others will launch a nationwide discussion on the benefits of a new green economy.


Building Pittsburgh’s David Lawrence Convention Center provides good union jobs and helps the environment.


The location of the March 13–14 conference at Pittsburgh’s David Lawrence Convention Center highlights the group’s commitment: It’s the only entirely green convention center in the country. Participants will share best practices about revitalizing our manufacturing sector, driving green building, promoting safer chemicals and realizing the economic benefits of global warming solutions. Click here to learn more about the conference and register to attend.

Good Jobs, Green Jobs follows the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia. Of the 90 union delegates, more than 20 were from North America. The U.S. delegates sent us a series of posts from the conference: here, here, here, here, here and here.

Speaking at the Bali conference, Roger Toussaint, president of Transport Workers (TWU) Local 100, laid out the issue of climate change and why unions should be involved:

This is not a test. Global warming is real and climate change is happening. We have to rise to the challenge of climate change by making it a key priority for our unions. A trade union agenda, rooted in the organized strength of workers and day to day engagement in affected communities, can help transition our society to a low-carbon future. This will bring “green” employment in such things as public transportation, which is critically important now and in the years ahead.

FULL story at link.