NZ BUSINESSES NOT MEASURING FOR GREENHOUSE GASES YET

The word is that the government is also finding it tough developing tools that will adequately measure GG.

Companies not measuring greenhouse emissions

New Zealand companies are ill-prepared for emissions trading, a new survey shows.

A nationwide survey of 2794 firms found the overwhelming majority were not measuring their greenhouse-gas emissions and had no plans to start.

The sectors expected to face the biggest bills from the price of carbon agriculture, forestry, manufacturing and transport were the least prepared.

The findings, released yesterday, follow the passing of legislation setting up an emissions trading scheme (ETS) that will force polluting industries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions or pay penalties.

The bill was pushed through Parliament under urgency after Labour struck deals with the Greens and New Zealand First. The National Party opposed the legislation, saying it was rushed.

National's climate change spokesman, Nelson MP Nick Smith, said the survey showed New Zealand had "a huge way to go" to be ready for the implementation of an ETS.

"It reinforces National's view that the legislation was rushed through Parliament without many businesses understanding the full impacts," he said.

"We need to sit down with the business community, particularly in this very uncertain business climate, to make sure that the way in which we implement the emissions trading scheme is not going to sock another blow to the engine room of the economy."

Critics warn the ETS could result in the loss of up to 22,000 jobs by 2025 and shave as much as $8.5 billion off gross domestic product.

The poll conducted for the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development revealed only 7 per cent of companies were measuring their greenhouse-gas emissions and only 12% were developing plans to do so.