As International Leaders Gather in Rio de Janeiro, Labor-Environmental Coalition Offers Pathway to Good, Green Jobs 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 19, 2012) As world leaders gather in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development beginning this week, the BlueGreen Alliance today released a policy statement urging participants to take action to realize a just, low-carbon economy.

“These are crucial steps to build a more sustainable world, and address the growing climate crisis,” said David Foster, Executive Director of the BlueGreen Alliance. “We know that addressing climate change is an opportunity here in America — and all around the world — to create and sustain jobs that are good for workers and our environment. We can and must be more energy efficient and sustainable for our economy and our environment to thrive.”

The statement advises leaders to work to create jobs that are fair, equitable, and do notexploit workers or the environment; urges countries to outline specific policies that will grow renewable energy and energy efficiency worldwide; and argues for the establishment of achievable goals and benchmarks at the local or international level to address the threat of climate change.

“Failing to act now is a failure to secure a livable future for generations to come,” said Foster. “We urge leaders to act now for a more sustainable future for workers and our planet.”

The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of U.S. labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the green economy. Partners of the BlueGreen Alliance are attending the event, which begins on June 20th and concludes June 22nd. The conference marks the twentieth anniversary of the first Earth Summit in 1992, and approximately 120 heads of state are expected to participate, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Read the full policy statement here.