GLOBAL WARMING

The BCGEU is embarked on a major, long-term campaign to fight global warming. Global warming threatens us all, our environment, our health, our economies, our social services and our children's futures. Significant reducations in greenhouse gasses are required and soon. To that end, we are working with other labour, environmental, faith and social justice groups to ensure that not only are greenhouse gasses reduced, but they are done in a manner that is fair to everyone, workers and their communities in particular.

We'll be following up on a Convention resolution that requires the union to reduce emissions from our own operations.

• Ten things we can do to reduce greenhouse gas pollution
• Frequently asked questions about global warming and climate change
• Global warming basics
• Global Warming & Sea Level rise - Powerpoint presentation

B-24 COMPOSITE RESOLUTION 2 (GREENHOUSE GAS)

THE BCGEU WILL:

Pursue an aggressive campaign in the union and in the community to reduce greenhouse gas pollution; and support implementation of the Kyoto Accord.

In it’s external campaign urge all levels of government to reduce subsidies for use of oil, gas and coal and to instead offer significant incentives promoting the use of energy-efficient technologies, particularly for buildings, public transit and vehicles; and

Reduce our travel by jet and use video conferencing as much as possible and develop policies to encourage staff and members to walk, take bus to work and explore alternatives that reduce the need for personal vehicles.

BECAUSE greenhouse gas pollution from human activities is widely recognized as a significant cause of global warming; and

BECAUSE flying at high altitudes in jets releases much more greenhouse gas pollution than other means of transportation, doing about three times as much damage as greenhouse gas at the earth’s surface; and

BECAUSE much recent scientific evidence suggests that global warming is happening at a much faster rate than earlier projections indicated; and

BECAUSE this evidence also suggests that temperatures will be considerably higher this century than earlier projections indicated; and

BECAUSE climate scientists from NASA say their data reveal a threat of significant sea level rise this century; and

BECAUSE the global climate is warming, and increased droughts, severe storms and floods, forest fires, pests such as pine beetles, and diseases are all likely outcomes of global warming; and

BECAUSE these global warming impacts will likely have unacceptable impacts on our health and economies and ability to provide services to people.

Links:

• Suzuki Foundation
• The Pembina Institute
• Canadian Labour Congress Kyoto Campaign
• Sierra Club of BC
• Union of Concerned Scientists
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
• Hadley Center for Climate Change
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)