Case Studies By Service Area
Policy & Issues Management
Policy Implementation
Implementation of the Forestry Emissions Trading Scheme
The Scope
In late 2007 the Government announced its policy decision to implement an economy wide emissions trading scheme. Forestry would be the first sector to enter the emissions trading scheme in 2008. Owners of forest land established prior to 1990 would be required to purchase and surrender carbon units to offset carbon emissions associated with deforestation. Owners of forest land established after 1990 would be allowed to enter the emissions trading scheme and to claim carbon units with forest growth. It was agreed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry would administer the ETS for forestry once legislation was enacted in mid 2008.
Our Involvement
MartinJenkins Director Michael Mills was engaged by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to initially advise on and to subsequently manage the implementation of the forest specific components of the Emissions Trading Scheme. This required Michael to advise the Ministry on the business systems and processes necessary to deliver the emissions trading scheme, advise on a preferred organisational structure for a new Programmes Directorate to house the emissions trading and related forestry programme delivery functions, manage the design and implementation of necessary administrative processes and systems, manage development of a compliance strategy and to advise on related communications, verification, audit and enforcement activities.
The Outcome
MAF was able to clearly demonstrate its ability to step up to the mark and to deliver on a large and important government initiative within a constrained time frame. A new Programmes Directorate was established within MAF Policy to deliver the forest ETS and related forestry and primary sector programmes. MAF senior management agreed to a recommended business model for delivery of the forestry sector into the ETS based on centralised management of transaction processes, communications audit and enforcement functions, localised customer advice and support and outsourced transaction processing and enquiries handling. Necessary systems and processes were designed, technical requirements related to carbon measurement and reporting identified and solutions identified, funds and other necessary resources secured, and key management and technical roles identified and filled. Michael’s involvement concluded with the successful appointment of a permanent Director in March 2008.
The MartinJenkins Difference
Successful implementation of the forest components of the Emissions Trading Scheme required engagement of a person with the ability and proven track record to effectively manage translation of policy into operational systems and processes and organisational roles and functions – within a time constrained and uncertain policy environment. Michael Mills was identified as having this ability and experience to achieve this, and successfully proved his ability to do so within a complex whole of government environment.
