26 October 2012
Carbon emissions and deforestation will increase and New Zealand's pure image will be tarnished if proposed changes to the emissions trading scheme go ahead, according to lawyer and forest owner Geoff Thompson. Speaking to 50 or so foresters and business people from Marlborough and Nelson at Blenheim's Marlborough Club on Wednesday, Mr Thompson said the Emissions Trading Scheme Act 2008 aimed to cut climate-changing emission levels. However, scheme changes had since removed incentives for polluters to develop better methods and foresters to re-plant, he said.Mr Thompson, of Duncan Cotterill Lawyers, was appointed by the government to the trading scheme's 2011 review panel for his expertise and interest in forestry, farming, climate-change issues and the scheme.
New Zealand had once been a world leader in managing carbon emissions but had fallen behind other countries. "Our international reputation will be eroded . . . our trade reputation, our clean green image will be undermined," he said.
Source: Marlborough Express story by Matthew Backhouse. To read the full story click here.