Gaurdian Utd (May 5): New Zealand first to levy carbon tax

[Jack Rabbit]

From the Guardian Unlimited (UK)
Dated Thursday May 5

New Zealand first to levy carbon tax
By John Vidal

New Zealanders will pay an extra NZ$2.90 (£1.11) a week for electricity, petrol and gas when the country becomes the first in the world to introduce a carbon tax to address global warming.

It is expected to add about 6% to household energy prices and 9% for most businesses but will help the economy in the long run, according to Pete Hodgson, the minister responsible for climate change policy.

Mr Hodgson set the tax yesterday at NZ$11 a metric tonne of carbon emitted. It will come into effect in two years. "If we are going to tackle climate change, we need to start taking environmental costs into account in the economic choices we make," he said.
The tax, planned after New Zealand signed up to the Kyoto protocol, would make polluting energy sources like coal and oil more expensive than cleaner ones like hydro, wind and solar, he added.

Read more.

[Massacure]

1. I have a question about this

The molecule weight of CO2 is 44.01. So does that mean if you release 1000 moles of CO2 there is 44,010 kg. Only 27.289% of CO2 is carbon though. That means there are 12,010 kg of Carbon in that CO2. So if you release 1000 moles of CO2, do you get charged $132.11 for just the carbon or $484.11 for the CO2 as a whole?

[rfkrfk]

2. another regressive tax, read the article...

about midway,
>The most energy-intensive businesses will be exempted so they are not forced to shut or relocate.<

How wonderful.
Millionaire farmers exempt.
International airlines exempt.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. The full paragraph

The most energy-intensive businesses will be exempted so they are not forced to shut or relocate. In return companies such as Comalco, which uses 15% of the country's power, and Carter Holt Harvey, the country's biggest sawmill, must commit to reducing carbon emissions.

I agree that this is something to criticize. I looks like they're giving the big boys an exemption, making them promise to do better and not providing any incentive for them to keep their promises.

ON EDIT

From One News TV (New Zealand)
Dated Wednesday May 4

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_budget_story_skin/534744%3Fformat=html
Carbon tax to push up energy bills

New Zealand households can expect to pay more for their power, gas and petrol bills when a carbon tax is introduced in 2007.

The government has announced a carbon tax of $15 a tonne as part of its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change which it signed in 2002.

The tax is aimed at reducing the carbon dioxide levels released into the environment . . . .

Firms with NGAs can gain exemptions from the carbon tax in return for moving to world's best practice in emissions management.

Read more.

Hopefully, there is some way to determine if exempt firm are complying and penalties if they are not.