An Oregon AFL-CIO resolution on global warming that has been languishing for two years was officially put to rest Aug. 10.

Resolution 17 — to endorse the Kyoto treaty on global warming — was first introduced at the October 2005 convention of the Oregon AFL-CIO. After much debate — and because it was in direct conflict with the position taken by the national AFL-CIO — delegates referred it to the AFL-CIO General Board. In December 2005, the resolution was again debated and tabled by the Board. It has remained in limbo ever since.

On Aug. 10, a motion to “untable” the resolution was successful, but the resolution itself failed to win majority support.

The Kyoto Protocol is a commitment by developed nations to reduce emissions of “greenhouse” gases like carbon dioxide that are contributing to global warming. It was tagged the Kyoto Protocol because it was the product of a special meeting of the United Nations in December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan.

The United States never signed the treaty, saying that it required no equivalent commitment by developing countries, like China or India.

In 1997, the national AFL-CIO also rejected it, reasoning that the treaty didn’t include developing nations. It reaffirmed that position in 1999, saying the treaty was too one-sided and that it was a threat to the U.S. economy.

Subsequent actions by the AFL-CIO’s Executive Board reaffirmed opposition to the Kyoto Agreement.

In a letter drafted March 2007 to Rep. John Dingell, AFL-CIO Legislative Director Bill Samuel said the labor federation supports balanced measures to combat global warming.