“Training of Trainers” on Climate Change and Chemicals
for Workers and Trade Unions Geneva, Switzerland,
26-30 May 2008
During the Geneva “Training of Trainers”, a particular emphasis was put on (i) the link between environmental sustainability and fundamental labour/human rights, including occupational health and safety, (ii) trade union experiences in the fields of Climate Change and Chemicals, and (iii) the way forward for effective trade union action globally, aimed at mitigating potential risks and benefiting from potential opportunities for workers. Training manuals on these two issues have been designed and translated into four UN languages (English, French, Russian, Spanish), for better dissemination, and made available through the UNEP Civil Society Website
Presentations
Session 1: Opening remarks Session 2: Labour and the environment: the role of trade unions as actors in achieving sustainable development
The role of trade unions as actors in achieving sustainable development, by Joaquín Nieto Saínz (Sustainlabour) - [English], [Français], [Español]
Session 3: Climate change: mitigation and adaptation, consequences on employment, trade union action
Session 4: Sound and sustainable management of chemicals: safe use of chemicals in the workplace, the way to green chemistry, chemicals regulations
Introduction to Chemicals Management, by Judith Carreras Garcia (Sustainlabour) - [English], [Français], [Español]
Effects of Human Health and Environment by, Peter Orris (Occupational Health Service Institute – University of Illinois) - [English], [Français], [Español]
Stakeholder Involvement, global chemical agenda, évolution and challenges, by Kaj Madsen (UNEP DTIE Chemicals) - [English], [Français], [Español]
Overview of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), by Hamoudi Shubber (UNEP DTIE Chemicals/SAICM Secretariat) - [English], [Français], [Español]
Use of Chemicals in the Workplace – Exposure Reduction Strategies, by Yahya Msangi (Tanzania Plantation Agriculture Workers Union) - [English], [Français], [Español]
Session 5: UNEP DTIE Energy Branch
Energy and Climate change: UNEP and Trade Unions’ Role, by Emanuela Menichetti (UNEP DTIE Energy) - [English], [Français], [Español]
Session 7: Training for trade unions: the way forward
Session 8: Closing remarks
Profiles of participants The trainees: 17 trade union representatives from four regions -namely Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Eastern Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean- were trained to the labour and environmental challenges raised by Climate change, and the Sound and sustainable management of chemicals in the workplace. The trainers: 13 facilitators were selected for this training, of which four trade unionists; three speakers from the Sustainlabour Foundation; three speakers from UNEP; two speakers from ILO; one speaker from the academia; and one speaker from the environmental NGO sector.
Major Outcomes
These initial 17 trade union representatives will contribute to share/disseminate knowledge/expertise on these issues and to deliver the trainings in their respective regions. Indeed, four regional sessions will be organized over 2008-2009 and focus on the specific environmental context, agenda and trade union action of each region.
Ultimately, the Geneva training will result in (i) strengthening the Climate change and Chemicals network of experts among trade unions in the regions and globally, and (ii) improving trade unions’ expertise, their representation in international environmental processes, and their contribution to drafting and implementing international environmental strategies that take into account labour aspects, with a view to sustainable development.
The Geneva training was also an opportunity to communicate on relevant action/programmes/projects carried out by UNEP and/or Sustainlabour, to emphasize possible entry points for future collaboration between UNEP, and major groups and stakeholders, in particular workers and trade unions, and receive valuable feedback from this group of stakeholders.
Evaluation of the Geneva TOT and the way forward
Overall, the participants to the first training session rated the two training manuals as adequate in their structures and contents, welcomed them as important and valuable bases for building the capacities of trade unions and workers in the fields of Climate change and Chemicals. They contributed to improve the training manuals for the purpose of the regional training sessions that will be held over 2008-2009.
