Monday, December 06, 2010

ACTU: Low-pollution economy

03 December, 2010 | ACTU Media Release

The Cancun Climate Change Summit now underway will be an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and further global action on climate change.

ACTU President Ged Kearney is attending the summit in Mexico for various meetings and discussions with world leaders in hopes to advance a resolution on the issue.

Unions have been campaigning around this issue for years and call on the Government to act quickly to ensure Australia does not lag far behind the global community.

Ms Kearney said that a global gathering will highlight that urgent action is needed for a domestic carbon pricing mechanism that will encourage investment in new industries.

"Our major international competitors are already establishing themselves in clean energy industries, technology and manufacturing,” Ms Kearney said.

"We are missing out on billions of dollars of investment that is now flowing to projects and communities in other countries.

"The longer we take to move to a low pollution economy here the more it will cost Australia to make the economic transformation.

"To remain globally competitive we need to establish a price on carbon, invest in and develop new industries and jobs as well as assist in helping current industries to become cleaner and more efficient. This will ensure that vulnerable communities will be cared for."

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