Comrades, fellow trade unionists, fellow activists
It is with great honour and revolutionary zeal that I stand before you today as the General Secretary of COSATU to welcome you to this historic event – the Global South Exchange. We gather here, with more than 130 participants from 17 countries, united in our purpose to defend workers, advance workers’ interests, and to build the left axis.
We welcome comrades who have travelled from Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Somalia, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Angola, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We welcome comrades who are joining from the various parts of South Africa and comrades from NGOs, academics and other progressive formations who have worked with us to advance our struggle on climate change and our fight for a Just Transition. Your collective presence signifies our shared commitment to working class struggle and the urgent course that brings us together: climate change.
Climate change is not a distant phenomenon; it is a reality that affects each one of us, especially workers, the working class and the poor who bear the brunt of its impacts. The rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and environmental degradation hit us hardest, threatening our livelihoods and our communities. Workers get sick and die working in harsh environments while bosses sit comfortably in air-conditioned offices.
As we confront this global challenge, let us be clear: there can be no transition to a lower carbon-intensive economy without us, the workers. Such a transition demands justice. For years, labour has been at the forefront, fighting for a just transition. This struggle is far from over; it must continue with renewed vigour at every level—international, national, regional, and local.
Our conference today is a crucial step in this journey. We are here to deliberate on how climate change impacts us in Africa and the Global South, and to forge a path forward. Our discussions will revolve around critical issues such as financing mechanisms and their effects on us, the dynamics of labour markets, promoting social and solidarity economies and social ownership, and building labour’s strength and solidarity.
We aim to emerge from this Global South Exchange with common positions that we can carry into our international negotiations, including the upcoming COP and G20 next year.
Our shared experiences are powerful tools. They enable us to strengthen our engagements at the national and local levels, learning from one another’s triumphs and challenges. As we exchange knowledge and strategies, let us plan how to maintain this momentum, how to fortify our solidarity, and how to amplify our unified voice.
Comrades, the task ahead is daunting, but our resolve is unyielding. Let us embark on these discussions with open minds and collaborative spirits. Let us build bridges of solidarity that span continents and unite us in our common cause. Let us continue to do our job – defend workers, defend the working class and advance their interests!