CTU Welcomes Sustainable Development Report

The Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson has welcomed the report 'Creating our Future' released today by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.

Ross Wilson said the report's recommendations on the need for clear objectives on sustainable development, targets and timelines, along with an education programme on all the issues, were a sensible approach.

"A sustainable development framework is a welcome change from the over-emphasis on narrowly defined economic goals," Ross Wilson said.

"Many firms are now looking at triple bottom-line accounting, and at government level we are seeing a much better policy balance of social, environmental and cultural dimensions alongside economic objectives."

The Report is also timely with the World Summit on Sustainable Development taking place later this month.

There will be one union representative from New Zealand as part of the NZ delegation. There will be a large international contingent of unionists at the Summit and they will be emphasising the social dimension of sustainable development including issues of health and safety, core labour standards, and consultation with workers.