Last word

Authors: Euan Mason, Carolyn Mason
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2017, Issue N.Z.J.For. 62(1) 2017, pp 43-44, May 2017
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

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Abstract: It was 2014 and we were debating whether or not purchasing credits as a speculative investment was hypocritical. There is a difference between making money and creating wealth, just as there is a difference between having a token, dysfunctional emissions trading scheme (ETS) and addressing climate change. Our government had finally, after years of criticism, agreed to disallow ETS surrenders of ‘hot air’ credits obtained from former Soviet countries, and a gradual rise in prices of NZUs was virtually guaranteed now that polluters were required to surrender NZUs instead. ‘Hot air’ credits did not represent any response to address climate change, and they were available in enormous numbers very cheaply. After they were banned NZU prices rose a bit faster than predicted, and we would have made a 400% return in less than 18 months.

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