17 May 2018

Trade Union umbrella group supports climate goals but wants to put “just transition” first

Clean Energy Wire

Organising a “just transition” to a largely decarbonised economy has to become much more of a focus of the political debate, Germany’s largest trade union umbrella group DGB said in a newly adopted decision at its annual congress this week. The DGB is the umbrella group for eight of Germany’s largest trade unions, with nearly 6 million members in total, including vocal critics of current energy transition policies from the Trade Union for mining, chemicals and energy industries (IGBCE).
In the document, the DGB reiterated its support for the goals of the Paris Agreement, as well as German and EU climate targets, including the sector targets in the government’s Climate Action Plan 2050. A “just transition” in the transport sector would require retaining the whole value chain for car manufacturing in Germany, the DGB says.

Please note: CLEW will publish an article on the DGB decision shortly.

Download the DGB decision (document Beschluss C011) in German here.

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