KEY POINTS:
Business leaders in the energy sector have urged the Government to put a price on greenhouse gas emissions and to consider a ban on importing cars more than seven years old.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen and Energy Minister David Parker discussed a range of possible "carbon trading" regimes behind closed doors at the Energy Future Forum.
Peter Neilson, chief executive of the Business Council for Sustainable Development, said there was a consensus among business leaders that a price needed to be put on carbon, and "significant interest" in what mechanism should be used to do this.
"There is also a consensus that any carbon charge should have wide coverage, including agriculture, the largest emissions source and the hardest to reduce."
The energy leaders said putting a price on carbon would help cut emissions and manage climate change.
The forum was held in Wellington on Thursday.
- NZPA
