Jobs After Coal

Coal mining communities in New Zealand have recently faced major disruption, uncertainty and job losses as the industry suffers from falling prices, competition from renewable energy and mounting concern at the threat of climate change.

Globally and locally, we are on the brink of a transition from the old economy, based on fossil fuels, to a new future based on clean, renewable energy. Yet many hold on to the old for fear of job losses that will leave communities with a shattered economy and no options.

That’s why, in May 2014, Coal Action Network Aotearoa launched our “Jobs After Coal” report – and why, in April 2015, we released an updated edition (pictured above). The report argues that:

• the role of coal in New Zealand’s economy is small
• there are many options for jobs in the industries that will replace coal
• skills of coal miners are transferable to other industries, and
• communities can reinvent themselves to regain a new prosperity after coal.

But these positive outcomes depend on recognising the need for a proper and effective transition path and setting up a planned process within the community itself, including all stakeholders, with support from central and local government.

2015 revised edition

You can download, read and share:

• The 2015 revised edition of our report Jobs After Coal: A Just Transition for New Zealand Communities (PDF, 2.8 MB)
• The summary version of Jobs After Coal 2015 (PDF, 97 KB)
• The press release announcing the launch of the revised edition
• Jeanette Fitzsimons’ speech during the May Day celebrations in Blackball on 2 May, 2015 launching the revised edition (PDF, 81 KB)
• Jeanette Fitzsimons’ blog about the Blackball launch

2014 original edition

You can still access:

• Our 2014 report Jobs After Coal: A Just Transition for New Zealand Communities (PDF, 3MB)
• A short version of the Jobs After Coal report (summary and key recommendations) (PDF, 103KB)
• Jeanette Fitzsimons’s Jobs After Coal presentation (PDF, 1.9KB)

You can also read about how the report was received in communities around the country:

http://coalactionnetworkaotearoa.wordpress.com/category/jobs-after-coal/