The evidence that the consequences of climate change are severe and potentially catastrophic, is not questionable. We are on a dangerous path which may lead to irreversible changes in Earth’s climate systems.
Reverting this trend is vital for our planet, for future generations as well as for protecting jobs and workers’ rights. The EU Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy are clear: there’s a need for bold commitment towards more ambitious environmental targets. Yet, there cannot be any green transition to more sustainable agriculture, food processing and hospitality without social considerations and the involvement of trade unions.
Under this light, EFFAT releases today its Recommendations for action to deliver a just transition in agriculture, food processing and tourism, three sectors among the most impacting climate change. Equally, the climate crisis is itself affecting their viability with relevant repercussions on jobs and working conditions of millions of workers across Europe and the world.
To deal with the climate breakdown, EFFAT envisions a just transition that delivers for working people, that while greening our sector tackles discrimination at work, strengthens collective bargaining, and improves workplace democracy.
The green transition to be successfully carried out must shift away from our current economic model where short-term thinking makes companies compete hard with one another to maximise profits and shareholder value in a planet with limited resources.
A vital role in this model should be played by politics and not free-market. Environmental policies should set ambitious targets and social objectives to anticipate change and promote quality job creation.
To achieve a socially just transition in the agro-food and hospitality sectors, EFFAT recommendations encompass the following actions:
- Mobilise as trade unions against climate change and for a just transition.
- Match environmental and social concerns to address the systemic issues affecting our sectors.
- Anticipate change and call for social considerations in environmental policies.
- Ensure that adaptation strategies protect working people’ jobs and income.
Particularly amid the current cost-of-living crisis, EFFAT wants the green transition to underpin social acceptance and be an opportunity for working people in our sectors rather than an additional threat. An opportunity to create more and better jobs with stable employment, fair pay and advanced working conditions. An opportunity for workers and trade unions to feel they’re active players of a process at the end of which increased labour standards will apply.
An opportunity that really leaves no one behind.
Recommendations for action to deliver a just transition in agriculture, food processing and tourism [ENG]
Supporting Study: Just Transition: Rethinking the Agro-Food and Tourism sectors with a new sustainable and socially inclusive vision. [ENG]
