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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.

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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

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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