ETS delay generates mixed-bag IT response

The Federal Government’s decision to delay an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) has been met with mixed reviews by IT sources.

Due to the global economic climate, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced the proposed ETS rollout will be pushed back one year, to 2011.

Environmental non-profit organisation, Computers Off Australia founder, Mark Winter, said it was a “great thing” the Rudd Government postponed the ETS and claimed many of the companies he deals with, including financial service corporations, were not ready with their basic policies.

“Fundamentally, no one would have been ready, no would have done anything, and no one would have complied,” he said. “A lot of organisations think it is too hard to work with the program because they need to have a policy and be able to enforce it.”

In contrast, Prima Consulting, who offers Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) compliance services to enterprise customers, considered the ETS delay a bad move. Managing director, Robert Riegert, also rejected the idea companies will not be ready to join the trading scheme.

“We have been preparing for nearly three years so if businesses have not been cognitive that this is coming then they have buried their heads in the sand,” he said.

Despite the ETS setback, Riegert did not expect a drop in the company’s CPRS service uptake and cited legislation and corporate branding as major driving forces.

“I see a greater demand for our services,” he said. “Compliance levels are probably going to come down and more companies will to be caught in the net.

“Corporate branding is also a factor, as well as the legislations that involve suppliers of heavy emitters being involved in the scheme.”

Carbon Credit Trust founder, Frank Downes, saw the situation in both a positive and negative light.

“The decision will definitely reduce the drive to get something done,” he said. “But on the up side, everyone gets a bit more time to get the house in order.”

Downes also saw an increased greenhouse gas reduction target introduced after the announcement to delay the ETS as a decent trade-off.

“The Government has pushed the target from 15 per cent to 25 per cent by 2020, as long as the rest of the world follows, is a more reasonable outcome.”

While some companies have already invested in ETS compliance activities, Downes did not see a backlash as a result of the ETS holdup.

“A lot of the compliance procedure is good business practice anyway,” he said. “It should be done irrespective of the scheme since it drives efficiency and profitability.”

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