1. COSATU Submission: Carbon Tax Bill 12 March 2019

2. Introduction Realities and impacts of climate change;
Need for urgent action to halt climate change;
Tax as an influencer of industry and consumers;
Lack of a government jobs and transition plan; and
COSATU proposals.

3. Impact of Climate Change on Workers
Water crisis;
Acid mine water;
Pollution in urban and industrial areas;
Asbestos and mining communities;
Agricultural job losses & food security;
Increasing levels of skin cancer & shortened life expectancies;
Floods, rising sea levels etc; and
Fiscal burden to the state.

4. Eskom and State Capture
NUM – renewable energy champion;
Eskom threat to retrench 5000 coal workers;
Guptas, Optimum, Tegeta, Eskom & DMR.
New job threats:
10% job cuts by 2019; and
Longer term plans to cut Eskom jobs by 50%.

5. Carbon Tax Tax – an easy tool to influence the economy;
Punish polluters;
Low levels of tax, initially;
Agricultural exemptions; and
Mining industry fragility.

6. Carbon Tax Other climate change state interventions?
Over taxation and increasingly regressive taxes;
Lack of a government jobs plan; and
Few departmental jobs targets.

7. COSATU Just Transition Proposals – Jobs Plans
Nedlac engagements
Presidential Jobs and Investment Summits: Just Transition Task Team
Macro and sectoral targets & plans; &
Reskilling and absorbing affected workers and communities.

8. COSATU Just Transition Proposals - Eskom
Eskom as renewable energy producer;
Massive expansion of electricity supply to:
Export to Africa; and
Production of locally made electric cars, taxies and busses for domestic use and exports.

9. COSATU Just Transition Proposals - Renewables
Renewable technology:
Roof tiles and road surfaces;
Require all buildings to install locally produced renewable energy and water and grey water harvesting within 5 years.
Manufacturing and export opportunities.

10. COSATU Just Transition Proposals - Water
Water conservation plans e.g. infrastructure, alien vegetation etc.
Require all buildings to install locally produced renewable energy and water and grey water harvesting within 5 years.
Recycling of water etc.
Manufacturing and export opportunities.
Oceans.
Aquaculture.

11. COSATU Just Transition Proposals – Transport
Public transport:
Commuter and freight trains;
Electric vehicles:
Busses;
Cars;
Bikes.
Manufacturing and export opportunities.
Paint roads white.
Biofuels.

12. COSATU Just Transition Proposals – Land
Working on Land:
Spekboom
Reforestation;
Anti-desertification;
Biofuel.
Garden cities.
Indigenous fauna.

13. COSATU Just Transition Proposals – Mines
Rehabilitation of mines.
Addressing acid mine water.
Technology components.

14. COSATU Just Transition Proposals – Recycling
Expanding and building comprehensive recycling industry targeting industries and consumers:
Plastics,
Glass;
Paper,
Wood,
Tyres;
Metals; and
Refuse.

15. COSATU Just Transition Proposals - Industries
Sustainable technology and methods for:
Agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and forestry;
Construction: cement and other materials;
Clothing: organic vs. conventionally grown fibres;
PIC green industry investments and requirements.

16. COSATU Revenue Proposals
Carbon tax revenue invest in green economy job creation;
Green job creation incentives & rebates;
Eskom tariff hikes limited to inflation; and
Government mitigation plan for the poor e.g. VAT exempt essentials.

17. Conclusion
Support SCOF resolution that Government and Nedlac to be called to report to Parliament quarterly on implementation of Jobs and Investment Plans