Read this article in:
English
18 June, 2025On 12 and 13 June, IndustriALL Global Union took part in the 10th Global Conference on Energy Efficiency organized by the International Energy Agency (IEA), and in the meeting of the Clean Energy Labour Council held during the conference in Brussels.
During the opening session of the conference, speakers underlined the urgency of placing energy efficiency at the core of policies to address the climate crisis, reduce energy poverty, strengthen energy security and improve industrial competitiveness.
Energy efficiency was highlighted as the "first fuel" ahead of any other energy source, with significant economic returns: every euro invested in efficiency can translate into up to 12 euros of savings for households. The energy crisis resulting from the war in Ukraine was also shown to have accelerated the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, particularly Russian gas, thanks in part to energy efficiency measures.
At the Clean Energy Labour Council, co-chaired by Luc Triangle, ITUC general secretary and Zingiswa Losi, president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the focus was on ensuring that the energy transition is just, inclusive and people-centred. Luc Triangle stressed the need for a transition framework that guarantees quality jobs, labour rights and social protection, highlighting that without genuine trade union participation and a justice-based approach, the process will not gain the necessary support from workers.
In his intervention, IndustriALL general secretary, Atle Høie, said:
"There are people in this room who have been persecuted for their trade union activities, which means that they wouldn't even be close to the room that decides on what's going to happen in terms of transition. If countries decide that they want to persecute trade unionists for doing the job of protecting people in that country, how do we expect that workers are going to be at the table? There's so much we have to do at the same time here, and we don't have time to do it wrong."
Two key documents were presented at the meeting, providing concrete recommendations for translating the principles of a Just Transition into national and international actions, with a view to the G20 and COP30 processes in Brazil:
- The IEA Clean Energy Labour Council Paper on the labour dimension in energy transitions
- The Blueprint for Action on Just and Inclusive Energy Transitions from the Global Commission on People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions: Designing for Fairness June 2025
IndustriALL is working in these forums to ensure that global energy transitions are built on a firm commitment to social justice and respect for workers’ rights.