International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) general secretary Stephen Cotton says seafarers have an important role in the decarbonisation of the shipping industry.
Cotton has been named as the civil society and labour representative at the United Nations Global Compact, an organisation of businesses supporting sustainable development goals.
“From a labour perspective, if done right, the transition to zero-carbon industries can be a big opportunity for workers — for decent pay, for better jobs, and for safer workplaces,” Cotton said at the launch of the UN's Ocean Stewardship Coalition.
He backed a target of zero carbon emissions for the shipping industry by 2050.
The International Maritime Organization currently has a goal to halve shipping emissions over the same period.
Critical role
He pointed out that there are health, safety and training issues for seafarers that the shipping industry needs to address on the road to decarbonisation.
He said seafarers would play a critical role and should be allowed into the discussion.
"Workers must be at the table that determines their futures because, to transform our economy to tackle this challenge, we need to bring every worker with us," Cotton said.
"This means workers represented at all levels, from the workplace to international meetings like COP. Workers cannot be a climate afterthought."
The UN Global Compact has been urging shipping to target zero greenhouse gas emissions.
It has launched the Ocean Stewardship Coalition to highlight the contribution of ocean-related industries to the environmental issues of biodiversity and climate change.
