Measures adopted by Governments that seek to control climate change also have major implications for jobs in many industries.
The Council of Trade Unions generally supports a sustainable development framework in which Government policy, business investment and operation and views of community stakeholders must all be directed towards a balanced approach to growth and development.
This approach recognises economic, social and environmental factors as equally important in the long term.
That is why the CTU supports those employers making genuine attempts to introduce a triple bottom-line approach to accountability.
It is unlikely that implementation of commitments by New Zealand will have a direct effect on the overall emission of greenhouse gases.
However, that does not mean that we New Zealanders can avoid recognising our obligation to join other countries in taking a global initiative to reduce global warming.
Sustainable development can be consistent with employment-rich initiatives. But on occasions a case can be made that the job considerations are simply too important when weighed against perhaps minimal environmental gains.
Having said that, the key element of the union approach is that there must be a "just transition" for workers, their families and their communities when there are sound environmental reasons for phasing out certain types of production or economic activity.
Although we support the Kyoto Protocol in principle we believe the National Impact Assessment should occur before consultation on the decision to ratify.
Unions have many issues of concern.
* What guarantees are there of a "just transition" for workers affected by policy options to meet any obligations to reduce emissions?
* No worker should lose employment as a result of ratification.
* What consideration is being given to exemption of specific sectors (such as agriculture and cement) or to ensure they receive significant assistance to offset the unfair burden of adjustment?
* Shouldn't the Government take a pro-active role in research and development of non-GM biotechnology, alternative energy use, and other initiatives which can reduce emissions?
* What plans are there to aggressively promote public transport to reduce COinf2 emissions?
* Where is the policy development linking the proposed ratification of the Kyoto Protocol to a specific model of sustainable development consistent with industry development strategies that have commenced?
* What guarantees are there against "leakage" where firms simply import or relocate - which means that overall emissions do not reduce, but employment in New Zealand does?
The union movement has already experienced the painful effects of some policy initiatives where New Zealand was seen as "leading the world".
The post-1984 deregulation programme, including huge tariff reduction, had a devastating effect on workers and their families.
The image of greenhouse gas emissions is perhaps more of smokestacks belching out dirty black pollution, rather than sheep, cattle and dairy herds quietly munching our clean green grass and belching methane into the atmosphere.
There does seem to be a special case for agriculture in New Zealand. If the only solution is to reduce production, then the direct impact on farmers and workers in related industries could be disastrous.
The issue of the transitional effects on workers was highlighted by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.
A statement to the Conference of the (Kyoto Protocol) Parties in November 1998, from the confederation and Trade Union Advisory Committee said: "Just transition policies must deal with the recovery of the economic and social costs of climate change and of emission reduction programmes.
"Companies which have profited from unsustainable practices must assume their share of responsibility. As a means of building social consensus around climate change policies, transition measures must provide for income protection, redundancy procedures, re-employment, education and retraining, coupled with promoting employment through energy conservation, alternative energy development and green job creation strategies generally," the statement said.
"The employment potential of new and alternative energy paths is encouraging, but translating this into reality will require active Government employment programmes with a mixture of solutions, including appropriate financial mechanisms."
The statement reflects the reasons the union movement is suggesting the Government should wait until a full analysis is available before it consults on a decision to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
* Paul Goulter is secretary of the Council of Trade Unions.
nzherald.co.nz/climate
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
United Nations Environment Program
World Meteorological Organisation
Framework Convention on Climate Change
Executive summary: Climate change impacts on NZ
IPCC Summary: Climate Change 2001
