How to develop trade union activities on sustainable development and employment P.Bobe Turin, Sept. 2007

Part II The role of the international institutions

Ce rapport est destiné aux membres du comité dentreprise SYNDEX Training 26 October 2006 The international challenges of S.D. Historic landmarks : 1972 Stockholm – Conference on the Human Environment 1992 Rio – Conference on Environment and Development Agenda 21- the national approach – Chap. 29 Two international conventions adopted: Biological Diversity and Climate Change 2002 Johannesburg – Earth Summit on S.D. Relaunch and laying down specific measures for Agenda 21 The social dimension at the centre of discussions

Ce rapport est destiné aux membres du comité dentreprise SYNDEX Training 26 October 2006 The international challenges of S.D. Economic development and environmental protection Need for growth in the developing countries/environmental concerns in the developed countries Access to global public goods/services Free reign of the market unsatisfactory/public intervention required Health, education but also access to water and energy Development support Financial, technological

Ce rapport est destiné aux membres du comité dentreprise SYNDEX Training 26 October 2006 The role of the international institutions The context of commercial globalisation enhances the role of the international institutions. An imbalance between financial and commercial institutions on the one hand and social institutions on the other. Predominance of economic and financial issues at the expense of social issues. This makes international trade union involvement and action necessary.

Ce rapport est destiné aux membres du comité dentreprise SYNDEX Training 26 October 2006 The role of the international institutions The UN UNEP, ILO, WHO, UNDP… The UNEP guarantees global monitoring of environmental protection, organises international environmental cooperation and drafts and monitors policies. Coordinated by the UNEP, the UNDP and the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is the financial mechanism for the Conventions on Biological Diversity and Climate Change. An example: cooperation between the ILO, the WHO, the UNEP and the international trade union organisations.

Ce rapport est destiné aux membres du comité dentreprise SYNDEX Training 26 October 2006 The role of the international institutions The OECD Unites the 30 most developed countries Consultative structure on economic and social policies SD report – what policies? Guiding principles – implementation The WTO Union action to include social and environmental standards in trade regulations and agreements Integrate the WTO into the UN system? Creation of a WEO being discussed.

Ce rapport est destiné aux membres du comité dentreprise SYNDEX Training 26 October 2006 The European Union and S.D. A large number of European texts refer to SD Declarations of intent Directives – transposition into national legislation The European Constitutional Treaty "The Union strives for SD in Europe", line 3, Articles 1-3 of the European Constitution The Gothenburg European Council (June 2001) First EU text to deal exclusively with SD Adoption of the implementation of an SD strategy

Ce rapport est destiné aux membres du comité dentreprise SYNDEX Training 26 October 2006 The European Union and S.D. An SD strategy: the priorities Fight against climate change Ensure environmentally-viable transport Limit risks to public health Manage natural resources responsibly Include the environment in Community policies The European Union and corporate social responsibility. Green paper on CSE, multi-stakeholder forum Results