WHEREAS:
The world’s leading global warming scientists agree that rising levels of pollutants such as carbon dioxide are trapping the sun’s heat like a blanket, warming the Earth’s atmosphere, and threatening to disrupt its climate system; and

WHEREAS:
The British government’s Stern Report in 2006 concluded that unless human behavior changes, global warming will lead to a 10 to 20 percent reduction of global economic activity by 2100, causing economic damage on the scale of the Great Depression; and

WHEREAS:
Unless mitigating action is taken, climate change will have severe economic, fiscal and environmental impacts on U.S. cities and states in the coming decades; and

WHEREAS:
The Apollo Alliance, a national coalition including labor, business and environmental organizations, of which AFSCME is an endorser, projects that investments in green technologies and infrastructure can create more than 3 million new, well-paying jobs over the next decade; and

WHEREAS:
The Investor Network on Climate Risk, comprised of public and labor pension funds representing $3 trillion in assets, is calling for measuring and disclosing the financial risk to investors from global warming, and embracing the new opportunities for green investments that can spur economic growth.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME calls for the adoption of federal legislation to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions to levels consistent with the recommendations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world’s leading body of climate experts. These recommendations urge 60 to 90 percent reductions of greenhouse gases from1990 levels by the year 2050 in order to avoid the worst and most costly impacts from climate change; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME supports government and public pension fund investments in clean technology and public infrastructure that will promote economic growth and new job opportunities while reducing the use of carbon, provide jobs with good wages and health benefits, including the right to organize, provide for a “clawback” of investments if employment standards are not met and include full, web-based disclosure of company- specific costs and benefits for public investments; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME supports initiatives to improve energy efficiency in public facilities and operations, including training public staff responsible for their design, operation and maintenance; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME supports public transit expansion and improvement, the greening, revitalization and development of existing urban areas and other smart growth initiatives; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME supports state-administered, federally-funded worker adjustment programs for workers who experience employment dislocations as a result of climate change policy; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME calls for the Securities and Exchange Commission to issue guidance leading to full corporate disclosure of climate risks and opportunities relating to investments; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME appoints a green ribbon committee to do a comprehensive study of how AFSCME can best assist in the fight against climate change, both at the state, national, and global level; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME publishes the results of this study to its membership and that the recommendations be passed along to the AFSCME International Executive Board to be implemented upon their approval; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That we encourage our membership to examine the various viewpoints on this issue, to better understand how this will impact workers and their families’ lives worldwide--that they may avail themselves of opportunities in their community to assist others in understanding the significance and ramifications of this issue; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME encourages its members to take steps in both their personal and professional lives to reduce, reuse, and recycle; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME encourages its affiliates to partner with employers, agencies and other organizations to assist with the furthering of this resolution; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That the fight against climate change offers economic opportunities and new job growth in the “green” technology and environmental remediation fields. Positions in these sectors should be held by union members and, if this is not the case, then strong efforts shall be made to organize said workers.
 
 
SUBMITTED BY: Salvatore Luciano, Delegate
AFSCME Local 2663, Council 4
Connecticut

Gary Gillespie, President and Delegate
AFSCME Council 75
Michael Hana, Delegate
AFSCME Local 88, Council 75
Oregon