The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union call to Australian mining companies came as the union announced its support for the Kyoto Treaty, increased renewable energy targets and an emissions trading scheme.
Increased pressure from environmental groups has put the spotlight on new coal mining projects and the effects increased coal production is having on the environment, now and into the future.
The union's change of heart is driven in part by its concerns about the industry's future, the ABC’s 7.30 Report said last night.
“We need to come out with a position that doesn't run away from climate change. Global warming is a global problem, so what we've got to do is deal with the CO2 emissions,” CFMEU national president Tony Maher told the 7.30 Report.
“To date, the Australian coal industry has committed $300 million over five years to a fund for research into the reduction of carbon emissions and for the development of clean coal technology.
“We believe this is woefully inadequate. It represents about 15c per tonne of coal per year. We believe that a more reasonable figure should be $1 per tonne to provide at least $2 billion from the industry to fast-track the development of clean coal,” Maher said.
He said the big mining companies should recognise that this is in their interest and that it is easily affordable.
Maher said the union had purchased parcels of shares in major Australian and international mining companies to take the issue from “the coalface to the boardrooms of the mining companies”
“Australia’s coal industry is dominated by the four biggest coal producers in the world – Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, Xstrata and Anglo Coal,” Maher said.
“These four companies have made a combined profit of well over $20 billion in the last year alone from mining. We believe they, and all the other companies riding the crest of the mining boom, have an obligation to plough some of this back into helping reduce global warming.
“Solving the challenges posed by global warming is too big an issue to be left in the hands of mining companies and energy producers. Our union invites community and environment groups seriously committed to reducing global warming to join us in this campaign.”
