The World

Aussie Miners Tackle Global Warming

The coal industry is a major contributor to climate change, but an Australian miners’ union is taking a stand on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Australia is the world’s largest coal exporting nation and the coal makes a significant contribution to global warming when it’s burned. The government has refused to ratify the Kyoto climate change treaty, in an effort to protect the country’s coal industry. But in an unusual twist, the Australian coal miner’s union has taken a stand to support renewable energy and address global warming. Mark Tamhane reports.