OMNI Features｜New Zealand Ends Plans to Price Agricultural Emissions．Swiss Voters Back Law to Boost Renewable Energy Output．MOEA Plans to Implement Tiered Pricing for Electricity and Expected to Launch as Early as 2025

｜New Zealand Ends Plans to Price Agricultural Emissions
New Zealand, home to 5 million people, has about 10 million cattle and 26 million sheep. Nearly half its total greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, mainly methane. The previous government had introduced a plan to charge farmers for their gas emissions from the end of 2025, in what was hailed as a world first.

However, the plan was unpopular in many parts of the rural sector and the current government promised to end it if elected. The conservative government said in a statement it would establish a Pastoral Sector Group with representatives from the agricultural sector to find other ways to reduce biogenic methane.

｜Swiss Voters Back Law to Boost Renewable Energy Output
Swiss voters backed legislation to promote renewable energy in a referendum on Sunday, while rejecting separate proposals intended to contain rising healthcare insurance costs. Seeking to enhance energy independence, the federal law passed in autumn 2023 comprises measures to boost the transport, storage and production of electricity, including facilitating the installation of solar panels on buildings.

｜MOEA Plans to Implement Tiered Pricing for Electricity and Expected to Launch as Early as 2025
To enable domestic enterprises to purchase green electricity, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has directed Taipower Company to develop a "tiered pricing for electricity" mechanism. The preliminary plan categorizes electricity into three types: green electricity, low-carbon electricity, and general electricity. Pricing will be set based on the carbon emissions associated with each type. The complete proposal will soon be discussed with the Ministry of Environment to finalize the relevant procedures.

Reference: Reuters｜PTS News