There was possibly enough heated discussion about the emissions trading scheme (ETS) in Mosgiel last night to have contributed to global climate change.
About 160 people, many of them farmers, attended a meeting at Coronation Hall where Climate Change Minister Nick Smith informed Otago residents from as far south as Owaka how the ETS works, its effect on households, farms and businesses, and how it will curb emissions.
Dr Smith said there had been a huge focus on costs associated with the ETS, but during his 30-minute presentation he attempted to help those present understand the opportunities arising from new energy technologies, from planting trees and from insulating their homes.
He said the purpose of the ETS was not to increase costs, but to help drive change to curb the growth in New Zealand's emissions and to adapt to a carbon-constrained world.
He acknowledged the science of climate change was complex and the ETS policy was not perfect.
As a result, the policy would be frequently reviewed, he said.
During the question and answer session, voices called out from the auditorium that the ETS was "bull...."
and the science was flawed.
While there was jeering and laughing at Dr Smith's answers, there were also calls for calm from many who were interested in his responses.
