May 6, 2008
Media Release

Business must use ETS delay to invest in sustainability

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union says businesses must use the Government’s decision to delay the phase out of free carbon allocations as an opportunity to make their operations more sustainable.

Businesses facing international competition were to have had free allocations covering 90 percent of their 2005 emissions phased out from 2013, but this has now been delayed until 2018.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little says businesses must use this breathing space to make their operations more sustainable.

“The Government’s decision will provide some certainty in the short term for workers in industries exposed to international competition, but the only way to protect Kiwi jobs into the future is for businesses to invest in minimising their carbon emissions.

“It is crucial that businesses use the extra breathing space to work with their employees to make the necessary changes rather than using this as a carbon holiday – there are thousands of Kiwi jobs relying on it.”

The EPMU represents thousands of workers in emissions-intensive businesses including NZ Steel, Holcim Cement, Solid Energy and a number of other members of the Greenhouse Policy Coalition.

ENDS

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