The Government’s sprawling $2.9b plan to bring down emissions includes several carrots but few sticks.
Here are the main points:
- A $579m scrap-and-replace scheme to help low-income families get cleaner cars
- An aim to have half of all energy use emission-free by 2035
- Aim to have 30% of cars zero-emission by 2035
- $650m in funds allocated to help industry decarbonise
- A new agricultural emissions research centre
- No bans on new gas connections
Climate Change Minister James Shaw and Finance Minister Grant Robertson unveiled the Emissions Reduction Plan in Wellington on Monday, ahead of the Budget on Thursday.
It funds a range of initiatives, including a $579m scrap-and-replace scheme that will see up to tens of thousands of low-income families trade in their older car for a cleaner alternative – either an EV or a hybrid. More detail on this scheme will be released in the coming months.
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An EV is charged up. One of the centrepieces of the plan is a scrap and replace scheme for poorer families looking to make the switch to EVs.
Families in most of the cities will be able to make use of kerbside food waste collection by 2030.
And the Government is aiming to have half of all energy use emissions-free by 2035 – not just electricity, but all energy.
Huge funds are also allocated to help industry decarbonise and to establish a new agricultural emissions research centre – with all the money coming from funds raised from the Emissions Trading Scheme, not general taxes.
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“The polluters are paying, not households,” Robertson said.
Despite heavy speculation, the Government has not confirmed that it will continue to discount public transport use, despite the half-price subsidy driving increased use – instead vaguely promising to make public transport more desirable.
ROBERT KITCHIN/Stuff</…….