KEY POINTS:
Most New Zealanders seem to think we should come down hard on countries who aren't as committed to climate change action as we are.
A new nationwide poll released today shows New Zealanders support imposing a carbon tax on imports from countries which don't impose carbon charges on
their own emitters.
The survey also shows people support giving this country's large greenhouse gas emitters special emission credits until 2020, or until their competitors overseas also pay a price on carbon.
A ShapeNZ poll of 3377 people, conducted between February 26 and March 3, shows New Zealanders strongly support taking action on climate change, want the country to be a global leader on the issue, and they believe the proposed emissions trading scheme will result in businesses cutting their emissions.
Support for the emissions trading scheme policy has firmed up from 46 per cent in November 2007 to 57 per cent.
Kiwis back an idea, being advanced in the European Union and the United States, to put a tax on imports from countries which do not impose a carbon tax on their own emitters.
Fifty five per cent of New Zealanders say this country should impose the green tax at the border (21 per cent say no, 23 per cent don't know.)
New Zealanders are also growing more concerned about climate change: 82 per cent say it is a problem to be dealt with urgently (41 per cent) and now (41 per cent). Only 6 per cent say it is a problem for later, and 6 per cent say it is not a problem. 3 per cent don't know.
The number who think it is a problem for now or urgent is up from 73 per cent in November last year to 82 per cent now, while those who say it's not a problem or problem for later have dropped from 25 per cent in November to 15 per cent now.
The research was conducted for the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Its Chief Executive, Peter Neilson, in a speech to the Institute of Charted Accountants at Auckland today, says New Zealanders are deeply concerned about climate change, want New Zealand to response and show leadership, think the local emissions trading system will work - and want to tax other countries that won't play their part.
Reports on the ShapeNZ Emission Trading and Climate Change Survey are available online.