07 July 2008
The Rudd Government’s commitment to meet their Climate Change timetable is admirable, Paul Howes, AWU National Secretary, said today.
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" But the Federal Government should also be prepared to drag out this timetable, if necessary, to ensure that there aren't any errors in the design of their emissions trading system.
" Our people are not skeptics on the issue of Climate Change.
" You can't argue against the scientific evidence that the planet is warming dangerously and it is because of us humans. I do believe that climate change is a real and present danger," Paul Howes said.
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AWU backs ACTU Global Climate Change March Executive statement
Paul Howes underlined that the Australian Workers' Union - the biggest resources and energy union in Australia - has been careful to ensure that the AWU's position is fully consistent with the policy adopted by all unions affiliated to the ACTU in March 2008 with the Global Climate Change policy platform.
" We need to design a new economic and environmental regime which will help industries change their practices, clean up their act and bring in new technologies such as carbon capture and storage ."
" If we do that then decent, well-paid, secure jobs will not be lost to Australia - and taken off-shore to countries like China, India and Brazil whose pollution levels are far-far higher than we have here in Australia.
"Until we have the economies of China, India and Brazil into a global emissions trading scheme I think it's important that we give adequate compensation to Australian industries," Paul Howes said.
Avoid Climate Change policies which works against Australia - do nothing to solve environmental crisis
" We need that support so we don't see carbon leakage and job leakage to those economies. If jobs and industries leak to economies without adequate green standards we will actually make the climate change problem worse.
" For every tonne of alumina made here in Australia we have 50 per cent less emissions than the same tonne made in China. So if this industry shifts to China because of Climate Change imposts we only worsen global pollution!
" We don't want the Rudd Government inadvertently creating reverse trade barriers - which hurt us, which works against our country but does nothing to improve the environmental crisis we all face.
AWU wants to be on the front foot in this debate
" In fact good new green jobs which are well-paid and secure will be created by some of the new environmental technologies we will need if we are to meet our Climate Change targets. But that's not going to happen automatically.
" I just believe that it's important that the Australian Workers' Union is on the front foot in this national debate, ensuring that the Government is aware of the significant ramifications to Australian industry if we get our plans wrong. l I think it's vital that the union stands up for job security for its members.
" If we ensure that adequate levels of compensation and recognition are given to industries so that they are given the appropriate amount of time to change their practices, to clean up their act, to look at the development of technologies such as carbon capture and storage, then no job need be lost.
" I want to work closely with the Government in ensuring that we get it right, and that's what I'm trying to do.
I think that the Government is receptive to the issues that we are raising and I think it's important that the Australian community is aware of the issues that we're raising.
Read earlier AWU commentary on Climate Change
Union warns against being wrong-footed on Climate Change
USA must pressure China to adopt decent global emissions trading standards
AWU wants Govt to look at plan to trap CO2 under depleted offshore gas fields
All electoral matter is authorised by Paul Howes, National Secretary