WASHINGTON, DC (November 30, 2015) – As world leaders gather in Paris today, the BlueGreen Alliance, a partnership of U.S. labor unions and environmental organizations, called on countries to reach an international climate agreement that reflects several key principles to ensure that such an agreement is effective, accountable, and ensures a just transition for workers and communities across the world.

“It is absolutely critical that countries reach an agreement in Paris over the next few weeks that takes the first step to address climate change,” said Kim Glas, Executive Director of the U.S.-based nonprofit organization. “We need an agreement that is not only effective in staving off the worst impact of climate change, but one that also ensures fairness and a just transition for workers and communities in the United States and across the world.”

The BlueGreen Alliance outlined several principles for an effective, accountable and just international climate change agreement. Among them, the partnership urged that the agreement set a transformational long-term goal and ensures a review of nations’ commitments every five years to ensure that we are increasing the level of ambition to meet scientific reality.

The BlueGreen Alliance also strongly urged that Just Transition and Decent Work language be included in both the preamble and operational articles of the agreement. Such language acknowledges that the transition to a clean energy economy requires the resources, policies and priorities needed to retool our nation, create family-sustaining jobs, strengthen and grow no- and low-carbon sectors, and ensure communities are healthy and safe.

The partnership also urged that an agreement include the necessary means for measurement, verification and review, as well as provisions for biennial reporting and review, saying that these measures were necessary to ensure a level playing field for globally competitive manufacturing while ensuring we meet our environmental objectives.

“Ensuring a strong, binding agreement to reduce carbon emissions worldwide is an essential first step in addressing climate change,” said Glas. “Just transition, transparency and accountability are critical to ensuring fair playing field for workers and communities at home and abroad. We hope that Paris will represent a turning point where the world focuses on serious action to achieve reductions in carbon pollution to address the threat of climate change.”