NZ Herald summaries on CC in NZ - 1 of 4

Haven't had much time lately and i can't blog at work anymore...

Brian Fallow on what the business groups are looking for in CC policy.

First, New Zealand is a tiny contributor to global warming. Where doing our bit for the planet ends and futile self-sacrifice begins depends on what the big emitting nations do.

I love this. I wish I could do this for everything: I'm a tiny contributer to littering and skewering fluffy kittens, not killing kittens is pointless unless the large killers get on board. You don't set your character by what the worst offenders do...

Secondly, relying on price signals is better than prescriptive regulation. And price-based measures should apply across the economy. Singling out the electricity sector for early action while exempting major emitting sectors - transport and agriculture - for political reasons would be distortionary, inefficient and unjust.

Agree. Although you could make an argument that the electricity sector is easier to get started with but the principle is sound.