Transcript the need to reduce greenhouse emissions

National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa
National Climate Change Response Green Paper 2010 - Presentation to the
Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs 9 March 2011
Summary of NUMSA Submission
1.
Climate Change - the debate on climate change is not
neutral and the formulation of policy remains a site for
serious engagement amongst contesting parties.
2.
NUMSA agrees:
- the need to reduce greenhouse emissions
- that we have to work towards creating a
cleaner, healthier environment and in tandem
with this manage the transition from fossil fuels to
renewable sources of energy; create green jobs;
facilitate access to land, water agriculture and
food security
NUMSA’s critique of the Green Paper:
1.
2.
the environmental debate has moved beyond the boundaries of
conservation.
If we open our “ecological lens” as Jacklyn Cock said, then we will
find that the Green Paper lacks the form of ideological and
political content that the General Secretary of NUMSA once
referred to when he addressed a climate change conference
under the theme “Cutting Emissions, Transforming Jobs” in Bad
Orb, Germany (14-15 October 2009). In his address to delegates
Comrade Jim argued that global capitalism and climate change
are closely linked:
We are convinced that any efforts to address the problems of
Climate Change that do not fundamentally challenge the system
of global capitalism are bound not only to fail, but to
generate new, larger and more dangerous threats to
human beings and our planet. … We believe that Climate
Change has a direct link with, and is caused by the global
private profit system of capitalism. (Jim, 2009: 2)
3.
4.
Over reliance on the “market” to moderate the adverse effects of
high levels of carbon emissions and global warming. As northern
governments (including the USA and EU) continue with their
relentless campaign of finding market related solutions to ward off
the threat posed by global warming, progressive
environmentalists have sounded a warning against so called
‘green capitalism’.
Nuclear Energy: NUMSA notes that the Green Paper calls for the
countrty to “explore and further develop the potential for nuclear
energy in terms of the national Nuclear Energy Policy” (Green
Paper 2010: 14) The Union has some serious reservations about
the use of nuclear energy and believes that there has be more
engagement on the matter. At NUMSA’s Mini National Congress
in May 2009, and thereafter at COSATU’s 10th National Congress
in September 2009, both the union and the federation expressed
the need for greater trade union involvement and visibility on
matters related to climate change and the protection of our natural
environment. In line with its resolution on energy matters NUMSA
believes that it is imperative for the union to make informed
decisions on “international carbon-trading, global warming,
nuclear energy and the use of alternate energy resources such as
solar, wind and wave powered energy”. (NUMSA Mini National
Congress, 11-14 May 2009, p75-76)
5. Sustainable Development versus Environmental Justice
As NUMSA we believe that not only is a new global energy system
in the making but that such a system is a necessity. All evidence is
pointing to the fact that the capitalist system (as we know it) has
reached a cul-de-sac. Not only is capitalism experiencing its most
serious crisis since the 1930s, but signs are there to show how
catastrophic it would be to continue along the path in which fossil
fuels (such as coal, oil and natural gas) remain engines of economic
development.
For Cock (2008) there are two powerful approaches that can be
utilised towards the creation of a new energy order: sustainable
development and environmental justice. To simply focus on
sustainable development (as the Green Paper has done) without
some perpective on redefining relations between humans and
nature, can be misleading. Besides any approach that sidelines
environmental justice could unleash a number of negative
consequences and impede our social and economic development.
As Gina (2010: 3) argued the emergence of a new global energy
system is not only a technical matter but involves struggle “for who
controls the sector and for what purpose energy is used.” Therefore
it is important to explore ideas about how production, distribution
and consumption of energy “can come under some form of collective
control in order to satisfy human and ecological needs rather the
needs of the profit-driven world market” (Gina, 2010: 3) It is on this
isssue of “collective control” that many environmentalists have
faltered. They thought that they could ultimately solve the problem
of environmental degradation within the market system. Although we
believe on the need to fight for improvements within the system of
capitalism, as a union we believe that to save us from the
catastrophe facing us we have to bring production, distribution and
consumption of energy under under “some form of collective control”
rather than “the profit-driven world market” (Gina, 2010: 3)
6. Water/Agriculture/Human Health
Access to Basic Services is one thing! Affordability another!
Climate change adaptation strategies on their own will not solve our food
problems - For the Green Paper to make any significant impact on
how best we can protect and sustain our natural resources such
as water, and for the best possible means to safeguard our food
supply and agriculture, a whole range of issues other than just
climate change, will have to be addressed. These include:
- addressing the land question (land reform, redistribution,
restitution and expropriation)
- agrarian reform
- rural development
- affordable and accessible health care for all
7. On the Green Economy and Green jobs
Several references have been made in the Green Paper to a shift to
a green economy and the creation of green jobs to complement the
transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. As
NUMSA we recognise that this transition isn’t going to be easy and
requires inputs from a number of interest parties, civil society in
general and labour in particular. The role of the state is central in
this transition and requires an ecological focus on all forms of
economic activity. Huge investments in renewable energy,
technology and skills cannot be left in the hands of the private
sector and there are huge opportunities for the state to make
meaningful interventions to reduce our carbon footprint and
boost our manufacturing potential (green jobs), transform the
transport sector and initiate strategies that will enhance and
protect our food supply.
8. On Climate Change and its impact on International Trade
The Green Paper needs to say more on climate change and its
impact on international trade. The use of trade instruments like NonTariff Barriers (NTB’s), including Eco-protectionism will impact on
trade between the north and south and could be effectively used by
developed countries to protect their markets. Unless developing
countries are able to keep pace with technological developments
that are ecologically friendly (technological and skills transfer) and
sharpen their negotiation skills at the level of the WTO and
associated forums that promote international trade, our economies
will still be subordinate to those of developed, highly industrialised
countries and instruments like Eco-Protectionism could prejudice
our trade and development interests.
Conclusion
The South African government must:
•
•
•
strengthen our capacity and increase investments in friendly and renewable
sources of energy like solar, water and wind powered energy
lessen our dependency on coal
encourage and promote more public debate on issues related to climate
change and global warming and popularize these debates on national
television, the radio and through the use of print media
In conclusion NUMSA calls on government to initiate a process with all
stakeholders (social movements, trade unions and NGO’s, etc.) and
relevant government departments to develop policies on climate change
that are mutually compatible and consistent with the developmental goals of
our country, sustainable and above all capable of protecting the earth and
its resources from pillaging corporations and ruthless investors.
References
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2.
3.
4.
5.
Cock, J (2008) The War Against Ourselves – Nature, Power and Justice.
Johannesburg, Wits University Press
Jim, I 2009 ‘Global Capitalism and the Challenge of Climate Change’,
paper presented at the “Cutting Emissions, Transforming Jobs” Climate
Change Conference, Bad Orb, Germany 14-15 October 2009
http://www.imfmetal.org/files/09102010321266/Session_one_Irvin_Jim.pd
f
Gina, C S (2010) ‘Experiences from the South’, paper presented at an
International Seminar on Energy, Work, Crisis and Resistance, 22-24
January 2010, Graz, Austria
NUMSA Mini National Congress, 11-14 May 2009, p75-76
Republic of South Africa (2010) National Climate Change Response
Green Paper