On 5 February 2007, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) presented the new publication «Labour and the Environment: A Natural Synergy». This is a joint publication by UNEP, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Health Organization (WHO), workers and trade unions through the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the International Labour Foundation for Sustainable Development (Sustainlabour) [ read more ]. The publication is available electronically on: www.unep.org/labour_environment/PDFs/UNEP-labour-env-synergy.pdf

The publication addresses the synergy between labour and the environment, linking the work of UNEP, ILO and WHO to the role workers can play in the implementation of environmentally sustainable development strategies. It focuses on the workers' perspectives on specific issues such as climate change and energy, public access to resources and services, occupational, environmental and public health, chemical risks and hazardous substances; and on establishing a Common Framework for Action towards sustainable consumption and production patterns, corporate social responsibility and accountability, education, capacity-building and knowledge sharing, interacting with other stakeholders and fostering workers' involvement in the environmental agenda.

Dr Igor Fedotov and Mr Gerd Albracht from the ILO Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment (SafeWork) made contributions to this book on asbestos and on labour inspection related issues, respectively.

Find information and resources on safety and health at work and environment-related matters on the ILO SafeWork web site.