Preparing for Bali

The Eleventh Session of the Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum was held from 21-22 February 2010, prior to the 11th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/ Global Ministerial Environment Forum scheduled for 24-26 February 2010, in Bali, Indonesia. The forum provided a platform for civil society for exchange, consultation and strategy definition on key environmental issues to be addressed by the Member States during the governing council. The Forum was attended by some 1,000 participants from 130 countries, including nearly 100 Ministers of Environment, and the following topics were covered a) International Environmental Governance and Sustainable Development, b) The Green Economy, c) Biodiversity and Ecosystems. Leer más...

COP 15 in Copenhagen

The UNFCCC 15th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change was the biggest ever. More than 45,000 people applied to attend COP15, and even more went to Copenhagen to participate in parallel activities. It was fundamental for the international trade union movement to show its commitment to achieving a fair, ambitious and binding outcome and to raising the profile of the labour movement’s demands for a “Just Transition” when these decisions were taken.
More than 400 trade unionists attended the Conference.
Nevertheless, the Copenhagen summit has left the fight against climate change in a difficult situation. The wounds are deep and have left us with little time to think of strategies and regain strength after the defeat.
See our bulletin for more information and see here for the special post-COP issue of Outreach. Leer más...

Taking care of health and the environment at the workplace – training in Arusha

Arusha, Tanzania – Trade unionists from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda came together to advance toward the sound management of chemicals. The event which took place from January 18 – 19, 2010 was organized by ITUC-Africa part of the joint UNEP-Sustainlabour programme on Labour and Environment.From March 8-9, 2010 in Accra, Ghana, a similar workshop will be held, this time for participants in francophone countries in Africa. Stay tuned for upcoming information.The workshop aimed to build a network of trade unionists in charge of management of chemical risk. The training session carried out focused on strengthening awareness of the health and environmental impacts of chemicals, and providing tools for addressing and reducing chemical risks at the workplace, ranging from practical information such as how to read a label, to how to include related provisions in collective agreements, or how to demand for the right to be informed and for the application of precautionary principle at the workplace.The seminar also aimed to improve knowledge on national legislations and references to international tools, ILO conventions, Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions and SAICM (Strategic Approach to Chemicals Management). Leer más...