Environment Commissioner urges Parliament to carefully consider ETS Committee report Aug 2009

As part of the confidence and supply agreement with ACT, in January 2009 the government sent the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to a select committee for review. The Commissioner was asked to be an independent adviser to this committee. Working with the committee meant being present throughout the process, including hearing all oral submissions to the review.

The Commissioner presented her advice to the committee on 30 July 2009. She focused on areas where she disagreed with the advice given by officials or where she felt there were significant omissions.

This advice covered seven areas:
1. climate change science
2. 2020 target
3. complementary measures
4. independent governance
5. agriculture
6. economic modeling
7. climate change research

You can download copies of the Commissioner's advice to the committee and a handout detailing her five recommendations on the right.

Impact of the ETS on forestry

Additionally, in April 2009 the Commissioner were asked by the committee how the Emission Trading Scheme will impact indigenous vegetation land cover. The Commissioner's response to this request was a short paper, Report to Emissions Trading Scheme Review Select Committee: Impact of the ETS on Indigenous Land Cover. The Commissioner spoke to the committee about this issue on 30 July 2009 and her advice and the handout for the committee with details of her two recommendations, can be downloaded.

Comments on the Official's Departmental Report

The Commissioner was asked to resolve any differences she had with officials as much as possible. In June 2009, the Commissioner provided comments to officials on a draft of the Departmental Report on the Emissions Trading Scheme Select Committee Review. For transparency, you can download a copy of these comments and the official's subsequent responses.

Link to reports

http://www.pce.parliament.nz/work_programme/reports_by_subject/all_reports/energy__and__climate/ets_review_committee_advice

ENDS

© Scoop Media