30 April 2002

Kyoto Protocol policies address most CTU concerns “The Government announcement of its preferred policy mix in respect of the Kyoto Protocol addresses most union concerns,” said the Council of Trade Unions secretary Paul Goulter today.

“The CTU supports the Government keeping the carbon sink credits, and exempting methane and nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture in the first commitment period,” he said.

“Although we remain concerned about the impact of a carbon charge on sectors of business that are at a competitive risk with overseas firms, we acknowledge that there is a process to negotiate exemptions,” he said.

“This means that the process of negotiating greenhouse gas agreements with the steel, aluminium, cement and other such sectors will be very important and unions will want to be involved to make sure that jobs are not lost.”

ENDS

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