Energy Emergency, Climate Crisis: Another Transition is
Possible Presentation for Energy Emergency: Developing Trade Union
Strategies for a Global Transition Roundtable October 10, 2012 NYC
District Council of Carpenters Sean Sweeney, Ph.D. and Lara
Skinner, Ph.D.
Slide 2
Energy Transition and the Green Economy Global Labor Institute
A transition to a green economy is in the end inevitable UN
Secretary General Ban KiMoon 2008
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Global Renewables Investment Global Labor Institute
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Global Energy Investment Global Labor Institute $302B $237B
Source: UNEP Division of Technology Industry and Economics (2012,
June 11). Global investment in renewable energy powers to record
$257 billion
Slide 5
Global Labor Institute 98 countries and 20 sub-national
authorities have RE targets or standards Obama-led green
investments created 990,000 jobs Policies for Renewable Energy
(RE)
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Renewables in Germany Global Labor Institute
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Renewables in China Global Labor Institute
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The Energy Transition is NOT Happening
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Energy Expansion, Not Transition Global Labor Institute
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Renewable Energy Generation Business as Usual = Catastrophic
Climate Change (C3 Scenario) Most countries + less than 5%
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Renewable Energy Under Siege Global Labor Institute
unemployment line Job Losses in Wind and Solar: Spain, China and
the United States Renewable Energy companies in trouble
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A New Era of Fossil Fuels Global Labor Institute When I was in
Davos in January (2010), the energy discussion was all about
renewables growth in megawatts. Soon after I was in Singapore and
the discussion was all about coal and power generation, talked
about in gigawatts. It was like living on two different planets.
Fatih Birol pic --- Fatih Birol, IEA Chief Economist
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Carbon Capture and Nuclear Power Global Labor Institute Nuclear
power? Losing ground to fossil fuels Carbon Capture and Storage?
Not happening
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Global Labor Institute Shale Gas Undercutting Renewable
Energy
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If governments honor their existing commitments. Global Labor
Institute ..fossil fuels will still be 74% of the energy mix in
2035 World Energy Outlook, 2011
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Market-based policies are not working Rio+20 is about scaling-
up and accelerating the Green Economy transformation already
manifest in most if not all countries across the globe. -- Remarks
by Achim Steiner to the Second Trade Union Assembly on Labour and
the Environment, Rio+20, June 12, 2012 Photo: ITUC
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lobal Labor Institute Whats Behind the Failure? Our view in the
U.S. is that it (a binding climate agreement) is not a necessary
thing to happen right now. Bankok, April 7, 2011 Todd Stern, United
States Special Envoy for Climate Change
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GREEN JOBS INITIATIVE An opportunity for unions to have the
voices heard? Or a means to cut off new ideas, strategies, and
movement building?
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Global Labor Institute The 2 Degrees Pathway
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Another Energy Transition is Necessary Global Labor Institute
Welcome to the Discussion!
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There is an Energy Emergency 1.The Three RISINGS => Climate
& Environmental Crises Fossil fuel demand Greenhouse gas
emissions Harmful pollution 2.Fossil fuel corporations power grows
3.Attacks on workers and unions have intensified 4.More energy More
access
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Fossil Fuel Use is Expanding Rapidly Currently, fossil fuels
meet 80% of world energy demand. Fossil fuels will meet the
majority of energy demand through 2035. We are in serious danger of
carbon lock-in. Fossil fuel corporations are advancing extreme
energy agenda.
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Shares of energy sources in total global primary energy supply
in 2008. IPCC Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change
Mitigation, 2012
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Global energy demand increases by 1/3 from 2010 to 2035. IEA
World Energy Outlook 2011
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Share of coal in Chinas total energy demand is over 50% in
2035. IEA World Energy Outlook 2011
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Fossil fuels are not running out IPCC Renewable Energy Sources
and Climate Change Mitigation, 2012
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Carbon is Locked-In Without Major Changes 4/5s of the total
energy- related CO 2 emissions is already locked-in by our existing
infrastructure. Must take action by 2017 or there will be no room
for additional infrastructure unless its zero-carbon. (IEA)
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Fossil Fuel Corporations Extreme Energy Agenda Far Riskier for
Workers, Communities & Environment Tar Sands Oil Shale gas
fracking Mountaintop removal and surface coal mining Deep sea /
Artic oil drilling
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Emissions Have Increased Dramatically from 1970 2010, Largely
From Fossil Fuels IEA CO 2 from Fossil Fuel Combustion Statistics,
2011
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Current emissions trends will lead to a catastrophic 6C (11F)
of warming National Climatic Data Center, NOAA
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Political Target = Keep warming below 2C What we really need =
1.5C Now=392PPM CO 2 Target=350PPM CO 2 C
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Impact of 0.8C Warming is Far Worse Than Scientists
Expected
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Fossil fuel corporations power is growing, making it harder to
protect workers, communities and the environment. Carbon Tracker
Initiative
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Under Attack Workers and Communities Many workers lack rights
& union representation Health & safety issues Production
up, employment down Companies closing union operations, reopening
non-union.
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More Fossil Fuels, More Emissions Energy Equity United Nations
Development Program and World Health Organization, 2009