Int'l leaders agree in Poland to safeguard jobs while protecting climate

The "Solidarity and Just Transition Silesia Declaration" was adopted by acclamation after thousands of decision makers from around the world flocked to the southern Polish city of Katowice to discuss ways of tackling global warming and climate change at the United Nations’ COP24 conference, Poland’s PAP news agency reported on Tuesday.

The declaration, drafted by Poland's government and signed by its President Andrzej Duda, aims to ensure a fair transformation based on solidarity amid efforts to protect the climate while maintaining economic development and jobs, according to PAP.

The declaration stresses “the social aspect of the transition towards a low-carbon economy,” defining it as “crucial for gaining social approval for the changes taking place,” according to the cop24.gov.pl website.

The declaration also says that public policies to reduce emissions will face social resistance and significant political risks for governments unless accompanied by social security programmes for workers whose jobs will be lost or transformed, according to the website.

The 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, also known as COP24, officially opened in Katowice on Monday and runs until December 14.

Speaking at the official opening of the summit on Monday, the Polish president said his country was "ready to take its share of responsibility for international security," including in terms of climate policy.

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told international leaders on Tuesday, the second day of the conference, that his country was among nations leading the way in efforts to stop global warming.

(gs/pk)

Source: PAP, cop24.gov.pl