Green Party proposal to save ETS to be debated

The Green Party is putting up a positive alternative to the National Government's Bill to gut the ETS, which is likely to be debated in Parliament today.

Green Party climate change spokesman Kennedy Graham has proposed an amendment via a supplementary order paper, to the Government's Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill.

"The New Zealand economy needs the National Government to act now or the country will face much higher costs down the track," Dr Graham said.

"My amendment offers political parties an effective alternative to supporting National's plan which continues to subsidise polluters.

"It's the Green ETS that should have been introduced back in 2007. I hope parties can vote based on what is good for the future of our country and the planet and support my amendment, rather than vote for National's Bill which takes us backwards.

"The National Government's bill defers inclusion of agriculture and maintains discounts for polluters indefinitely.

"My amendment would set targets to respond to the international science community's judgement on what's required to combat climate change and measures to get there.

"Measures included setting a floor on the price of units, phasing out the two-for-one polluter subsidy, restricting the use of international units that drag down the trading price, and introducing agriculture into the scheme.

"It also proposes an independent commission to administer the ETS and an appeals tribunal to consider appeals."