ETS Scheme needs to be amended - unions

Climate change policy should be broad-based and not rely too substantially on market-based mechanisms such as emissions trading, the Council of Trade Unions said in its submission to Parliament.

“In addition the CTU said that to reduce the impact on jobs, there need to be effective and fair mechanisms for the allocation of free credits to industry. These should not be phased out as rapidly as the Bill suggests and need to include an intensity measure so that firms operating at world best practice were not penalised,” CTU Economist Peter Conway said.

“There will also need to be assistance, including retraining, for any workers disadvantaged by the Emissions Trading Scheme.”

NZIER released a report today modelling possible job and wage impacts and costs to households from the ETS.

“Community and work-based education campaigns and other energy conservation measures as well as adequate, stringently enforced regulations are needed to work alongside emissions trading,” Peter Conway said.

The CTU is working with the Government and Business NZ on an awareness raising programme for workers and employers on energy efficiency. Another project about to start examines the trade skills needed for a sustainable economy.

The CTU has today released its submission to the select committee. It can be downloaded here:
http://union.org.nz/policy/climate-change-emissions-trading-feb-2008