19 Jun 2023

ETS: time for an overhaul? RNZ Environment Correspondent

From Nine To Noon, 11:05 am on 19 June 2023

The Government has released its draft plan for the Emissions Trading Scheme to incentivise greater emissions reductions instead of just planting trees.

The scheme is a government-run market where polluters buy credits to emit. Under current settings it is cheaper for firms to buy credits from tree planting rather than actually cutting pollution.

The Climate Change Commission believes the ETS in its current form is a threat to achieving the country's reduction targets. Hamish tells Kathryn the Government wants public feedback on its plan, as well as on how to treat permanent forests planted in order to sell credits on the scheme.

08 July 2022, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Rostock: The coal-fired power plant in the Rostock seaport is visible from afar with its cooling tower over 141m high. The power plant has been in operation since 1994 and can produce 553 MW of electricity. Up to now, the power plant has obtained a large part of its hard coal from Russia, but alternatives are now being sought. Photo: Jens Büttner/dpa (Photo by JENS BUTTNER / DPA / dpa Picture-Alliance via AFP)

Photo: AFP