KEY POINTS:
The Green Party has unveiled a climate change policy that would charge polluters for their greenhouse gas emissions.
In late 2004 the Government dumped a proposed carbon tax, due to political opposition.
But Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons today said the party had come up with a policy that was a viable and better alternative to a carbon tax.
Under the system big companies in polluting industries, such as electricity, transport and agriculture -- in particular dairying -- would have to purchase international Kyoto carbon credits.
They would then hand these over to the Government to cover the cost of their emissions under New Zealand's Kyoto Protocol obligations, removing a projected five-year $600 million burden off taxpayers.
- NZPA
