AWU takes fight to defend Australian steel industry to Global Climate Change meeting
02 November 2008
The success of an Australian emissions trading scheme (ETS) will largely depend on how we best achieve a global response to climate change, Australian Workers' Union (AWU) National Secretary, Paul Howes, warned today.
China is about to reveal its hand on climate change with an important national conference in Beijing due to start within days, the AWU leader noted.
Meanwhile unions from across the globe involved in the steel industry will meet next week to discuss a co-ordinated international response.
Climate change policies in current economic environment
The Treasury modeling released this week underlines the AWU leader's call for the Rudd Government to maintain Australia's leadership in the push for a global ETS.
Paul Howes is flying to Japan to take part in an urgent meeting of key steel unions called to discuss the challenges of climate change in the current economic environment.
Comparing data about emissions intensive steel-making across globe
" I will be comparing the important findings of the Australian Treasury about emissions intensive steel-making with other unions across the globe involved in this industry.
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" The Steel Action Group has been called together to look closely at climate change, technology transfer, the environment and current international economic conditions," Paul Howes, said today.
" Our members in the steel industry are rightly concerned about the compensation regime for their internationally exposed industries.
Ten steel unions from across the globe meet
" Union leaders from the USA, Canada, the UK, South Africa, Russia, Korea, India, Brazil and Japan ( as well as Australia) will come together in Tokyo to look at how best we co-operate in the interests of all of our members, and in the interests of greening the global environment.
" Many of these unions have the ability to influence their local political agendas, " Paul Howes said.
" Together we have the potential to join up domestic schemes, build sectoral agreements among producer countries ... all as a stepping-stone to a comprehensive global framework.
Challenges for a global steel industry
“Steel Unions in the fast developing economies of Brazil and India will play important roles in the climate change debate, if we are all to be on an equal footing.
" In Tokyo we will discuss sustainable strategies for climate change in each region and the challenges they present to the Global Steel Industry’s role in the environmental debate and for our nations,” Paul Howes said.
What the media's reporting
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Steel unions head to Japan to talk emissions- ABC radio news
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Steel unions meet over job prospects - Melbourne Age
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Unions to discuss emissions trading - AAP
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Jobs face threats on two fronts - Illawarra Mercury
Read some earlier AWU commentary
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AWU climate change campaign praised for protecting union jobs
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Don't let companies move to nations with laissez-faire environmental regulations
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AWU says Govt carbon capture initiative important for jobs
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Hunter Region smack-bang on the frontline of climate change debate – AWU warns
National Secretary: Paul Howes