American Federation of Teachers To Participate In United Nations Climate Change Conference

Richard Iannuzzi, American Federation of Teachers vice president and New York State United Teachers president, will join other prominent labor and environmental leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

WASHINGTON—AFT Vice President and New York State United Teachers President Richard Iannuzzi will join other labor leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen to urge all nations to make a strong commitment to address climate change and create “good green jobs.”

Iannuzzi, a member of the AFL-CIO delegation, will participate in events sponsored by the Blue Green Alliance, an organization of labor and environmental leaders. Both the AFT’s executive council and NYSUT’s representative assembly have approved resolutions urging increased union involvement in the fight to prevent climate change and protect the environment.

“We just can’t talk about climate change. We’re in Copenhagen to start working to improve the world for the students we serve today and for future generations,” Iannuzzi said. “Addressing climate change is crucial to the survival of all nations and their citizens.”

AFT President Randi Weingarten said, “We owe it to our children to leave them a better world by investing in green, sustainable technology that will create good green jobs.”

The AFL-CIO and the Blue Green Alliance will each host several events during the conference, including seminars, media briefings, discussions with U.S. government officials and a joint reception.

For updates on AFL-CIO activities in Copenhagen, visit the AFL-CIO blog: http://blog.aflcio.org/2009/12/07/seeking-security-in-copenhagen/.

For more information on Blue Green Alliance events at the UN Climate Change Conference, visit the Blue Green Alliance Web site: www.bluegreenalliance.org.