Page 6 - Climate Control News Magazine March 2021

News
Upskilling Australia’s RAC workforce
The Skills Update is used to identify skills in demand and to
update VET qualifications.
NEW SKILLS AND UPDATED QUALIFICATIONS TO REVISE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR REFRIGERATION AND AIR CONDITIONING (RAC) TECHNICIANS ARE PROVIDED IN A REPORT RELEASED BY AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY STANDARDS LAST MONTH.
THE 2020 ELECTROTECHNOLOGY Skills Update, which is published every three years to identify skills in demand and to update VET qualifications, said three trends are impacting the RAC workforce.
These are Internet of Things (IoT) technology, solar installations and natural refrigerants.
The report said IoT technology has led to a massive uptake of smart devices at home which is why Electrotechnology workers will need to be upskilled.
There has also been an increase in solar instal- lations which is set to double by the mid 2020s. Renewable technologies are projected to create more than 60,000 jobs in the next decade.
As these technologies develop further, Elec-
trotechnology workers will need the necessary skills for the installation and maintenance of solar systems. Another skill that will be in high demand is the ability to work with natu- ral refrigerants.
The federal government has set a target to re- duce HFC emissions by 85 per cent by 2036.
Skill development across the Electrotechnolo- gy workforce will be needed to ensure under- standing and knowledge of the associated risks with new refrigerants and to ensure adequate safety training in the operation, installation and maintenance of these updated systems.
New units of competency to be introduced in the next two years are outlined in a special re- port on page 18.
EU to tax trading partners
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT will vote this month on a carbon tax which will apply to a wide range of imports from Australia.
The European Union last week voted in fa- vour of a carbon border adjustment mecha- nism, which would place a carbon price on im- ports from less climate ambitious countries.
It will be introduced by 2023.
Australian farmers are warning that agricul- tural exports will be hardest hit without deci- sive action by the federal government on cli- mate change.
Farmers for Climate Action chair Charlie Prell, said the entire industry has been put on notice.
“The US is also considering similar measures and it would be naive to think that the rest of the world, including some of Australia’s biggest trading partners, will not follow suit,” he said.
Queensland grazier and Farmers for Climate Action board member Angus Emmott said Aus- tralia needs to commit to a net zero target.
“Our representatives in parliament need to get real about how rapidly the world is changing and work to position Australia so we can best take advantage of the opportunities these changes represent,” he said.
China and Japan have committed to a net zero target and are working to introduce simi- lar measures.
The Japanese government has confirmed it is considering a carbon pricing scheme which would force companies to pay a price for their greenhouse gas emissions.
United States president, Joe Biden, also sup- ports a similar carbon adjustment fee against countries that are failing to meet their climate and environmental obligations at the US border.
European Parliament, Brussels.
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