ETS: time for an overhaul? RNZ Environment Correspondent

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 to 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.