While the government tries to get the ETS legislation completed in time for Copenhagen the spin cycle has been working overtime, trying to get the lipstick to stay on this pig.
The Greenhouse Policy Coalition and Business NZ have both managed to make crucial errors in their attempts to play down the massive subsidy from taxpayers to large emitters that is embodied in the National/Maori version of the ETS. And the NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development has said nothing since reporting on 2 November that most Kiwis oppose the plan.
Fortunately, there are a few sane voices out there. Here are four:
Labour members of the Select Committee Considering the Bill:
The process adopted in respect of this bill is the worst that any of us have experienced in our time in Parliament.
…
The Treasury, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, our independent expert adviser, and the vast majority of submitters are critical of the bill. We uphold their criticisms. The bill significantly dilutes the effectiveness of the ETS, and will have a significant negative impact on the New Zealand economy and environment for many years to come. The bill ought not to proceed.
Simon Terry & Geoff Bertram: Taxpayers 84% Emitters 16%
Rod Oram: A costly exercise in hypocrisy
Brian Fallow: the ETS will cost our children
There has been a view that NZ should not seek to lead on climate change policy, but instead aim at being a “fast follower” so we don’t compromise our economy. I think this is poor economics. Apart from the deniers, we all expect relative prices to change in ways that reflect carbon (and other emission) constraints. The opportunity is to react now, so we have more time to get good at operating in that world.