The scientific evidence is unequivocal that climate change is already occurring and is due in large part to human activity. There is agreement with the need to reduce emissions as the means of managing the consequent environmental, economic, and social and health effects.
Climate change is a major issue for business. Enterprises ability to remain viable producers of products and services, whilst continuing to employ and honour their social obligation is dependant on the decisions made about how the climate change challenge should be met.
Business will play an integral role in implementing the policies and programs of government to reduce emissions. Business is also the driver of economic growth, investment and employment. Policy initiatives must be sensitive to these potentially competing priorities.
The acceptance by governments of the need to act on climate change shifts responsibility from the environmental to the economic and labour ministries, and requires employers’ organisations and worker representatives to be active in the development of the policy response.
Strategies that ensure the transition is efficient and just will require research and evaluation, embracing
Some of these are issues for government, some the Board room, and some the shop floor. The division of responsibility will need to be resolved.
Emission intensive inputs will become less accessible or increasingly expensive. New products and services will emerge; old products and services will be adapted or phased out. The next generation of the workforce will therefore use a different set of skills, and will work in occupations where carbon emitting activities are measurable and accountable; where carbon emission is a cost of production, with the unit cost determined by the market.