In 2021, the New Zealand government held its first ever auction selling “New Zealand Units” as part of the Emissions Trading Scheme. New Zealand Units are sort of like pollution vouchers.

Businesses can purchase units from the government or create them by taking carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) out of the atmosphere. Some businesses are given units for free.

Then businesses can trade those units, sell them or surrender them to emit one tonne of CO2e into the atmosphere.

The aim is for pollution to come at a cost to polluters, but some are concerned that the cost seems to be trending down.

Directed, filmed and edited by Isaiah Tour.
Written and presented by Robbie Nicol.
Made with the support of NZ On Air.