Australian coalmine workers will join international climate change talks Copenhagen from the 11th of December to the 18th of December 2009.

The CFMEU Mining and Energy union, which represents more than 20,000 coalmine workers, will take an important message from coal communities to the ‘Climate Change and World of Work’ forum at the International Trade Union Confederation in Copenhagen.

The ‘Climate Change and World of Work’ forum will run alongside the United Nations talks on climate change. It is the single largest gathering of international trade unions committed to action on reducing carbon emissions and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

What: Australian coalmine workers take message to climate talks in Copenhagen at the ‘Climate Change and the World of Work’ forum, urging for a greater investment by industry in carbon capture and storage.

When: 4PM Monday the 14th of December

Where: LO Denmark Building - Islands Brygge 32 D - 2300 Copenhagen Demark

Who: CFMEU Mining and Energy union General President, Mr Tony Maher

CFMEU Mining and Energy union General President Tony Maher, who will be addressing the forum, said that Australian coal communities wanted to send world leaders a strong message about the need for action on climate change.

Mr Maher said “Australian coal communities recognize the cost of inaction on climate change is far greater than the cost of action on climate change. Coalmine workers and their families in Australia and around the world want our leaders to ensure the long-term future of coal communities by taking strong action in tackling climate change.”

Mr Maher said that the CFMEU along with international unions would use their time at Copenhagen to push for greater investment from both governments and big business in carbon capture and storage.