(14 June 2012) European environmental and social organisations, ETUC and development groups call on EU governments and the European Commission to argue for concrete actions in Rio. The groups say that the “European countries and other developed countries have to commit in Rio to substantially reducing their consumption of the Earth’s limited natural resources, in so doing stimulating innovation and jobs through energy and resource efficiency. European leaders have to implement agreed EU targets and prepare themselves for more ambitious action. Developing countries should use natural resources more efficiently. “The socalled Spring Alliance wants ambitious commitment to a) To guarantee the right to food, clean water and sustainable energy for all

b) To plan socially and ecologically just transition strategies for societies based on Decent Work and a social protection floor (including access to essential health, education and social services, and the right to a minimum income).

c) To provide an enabling financial framework (notably through a global financial transaction tax, and addressing harmful subsidies).

d) To recognize the essential role of trade unions and civil society in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of public policies at all levels. It says that “promoting a green economy must be part of an overarching sustainable development strategy, striking a balance between social, ecological and economic aspects while achieving distributional and intergenerational equity. This requires active public policy engagement and cannot be delegated to the private sector alone”.

EPSU is a member of ETUC and supports the work of the Spring Alliance.

 For more information on the activities of the trade unions in Rio

 For more information on the Spring Alliance

Spring alliance statement