2. Registering as a participant
The Climate Change Response Act 2002 (the Act)1 requires persons carrying out the coal-related activities listed above to register as a participant in the NZ ETS within 20 working days of carrying out the particular ETS activity. For persons already carrying out these activities, this means you need to register by 1 February 2010 which is 20 working days after reporting obligations begin on 1 January 2010. Surrender obligations begin on 1 July 2010.
To register as a participant you must:
- first, apply to open a holding account which will ultimately be used for surrendering and receiving New Zealand Units (NZUs) when the surrender obligations for the particular sector begin. A participant who will be involved in more than one activity can use a single holding account for all of them.
To open a holding account, register as a user on the New Zealand Emission Unit Register (NZEUR) website at http://www.eur.govt.nz and, once the user registration is approved, use the online application form to open an account
- second, register as a participant by completing an online participant notification form at www.eur.govt.nz.
The participant is the person who undertakes the activity of importing, mining or purchasing coal. In the case of mining, the permit holder is to be treated as the participant under the NZ ETS. If no permit is required, the owner of the mine is legally responsible under the NZ ETS.
1. The Climate Change Response Act 2002 and related regulations are all available at www.legislation.govt.nz. Weblinks and additional guidance: www.climatechange.govt.nz/emissions-trading-scheme/regulations. An independent report from CRL Energy provides further technical background: www.climatechange.govt.nz/consultation/draft-regulations-seip/review-default-emissions-factors.pdf
