Emissions Trading Scheme & New Zealand

While I'm still remembering my holiday, I thought it might be instructive to contemplate the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). New Zealand, unlike Australia, introduced a price on carbon a while ago but is now reviewing it. "Changes to the scheme are being considered as part of a Select Committee Review and discussions with Australia on harmonisation with their similar Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme" (outdated statement!).
(Note: if in fact the current Federal Government manages to convince voting Australians that the sky won't fall in after July, the coal barons & gas won't stop extracting carbon rich fossil fuels and the government is not incompetent - big ask!).
 In New Zealand, life continues as usual, the populace are trying to be green and reduce emissions. Higher unemployment and greater debt are largely the result of the Christcurch earthquake. Cows and Sheep are exempt from the ETS. Its worthwhile noting that New Zealand is also banking on having a global agreement to share their responsibility with the rest of the world and has compiled a snapshot of their Greenhouse Gas Emissions (up to 2010). (I wish they would update their website!!!)

NZ Responsibility for CO2 Emissions. Note where Australia is!

The following website, Licensingline News, indicates the current state of entry into the ETS scheme by various sectors of the economy. Note the Carbon Price of $25 much like Australia's legislated but not implemented price, though that has effectively been halved to $12.50 by the implementation period in the scheme.

In Australia we still have the heavies in the Resources industries waging war against both the Federal Government and the Federal Opposition vowing to repeal the legislation when it comes to power. Time will tell if the NZ ETS is effective, if Australia manages to implement its Carbon Tax (almost an ETS), and if we get any of the various oligarchs in the resource sector being pre-selected to the Liberal or National Parties.

For the sake of the little people, I hope not!