New rules will require detailed reporting from trading platforms and participants, enhancing oversight as part of broader climate reforms.
The New Zealand government announced that it is taking steps to improve its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) by strengthening market rules on 27 May 2025.
Key changes include:
- Requiring trading platforms to report and record price and volume data to the Ministry for the Environment.
- Requiring market participants to record trading information into the ETS Register.
- Introducing market conduct obligations into the Climate Change Response Act, prohibiting price manipulation and misleading conduct.
- Allowing monitoring agencies to obtain information from market participants and share relevant information.
“A credible ETS is our most powerful and cost-effective tool to drive down net emissions across the economy. But to do its job, the ETS must have good market governance in place. That’s exactly what these changes are about,” said Simon Watts, Climate Change Minister, announcing plans to tighten ETS oversight, improving its effectiveness in climate policy reforms.
The changes will likely be introduced alongside other potential amendments to the Climate Change Response Act before the end of the year.
