An independent review of New Zealand’s methane reduction targets is long overdue and will be welcome news for farmers, Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says.
“The current methane reduction targets are incredibly divisive, highly political, and have no credible science to underpin them,” Langford says.
“They’re completely unrealistic, totally unaffordable, and go much further than is needed to stop farmers’ contribution to further warming.
“That’s why an urgent review of these methane reduction targets was one of Federated Farmers’ 12 policy priorities for the new Government to help restore farmer confidence.”
Langford’s comments come in response to an announcement from the Government on June 27 that it has appointed an independent panel, which will be chaired by Professor Nicola Shadbolt.
The panel began its work on June 30 and will report back to the Government by the end of the year, providing evidence-based advice on what New Zealand’s biogenic methane target should be to ensure no additional warming.
Langford says our country’s current legislated methane targets would require an incredibly ambitious 10% reduction in methane by 2030, and a 24-47% reduction by 2050.
“Federated Farmers have opposed these targets from day one because we could see no way to reach them without simply shutting down farms,” Langford says.
“The Government’s own modelling showed that achieving a 10% methane reduction by 2030 could see our sheep and beef production reduce by more than 20%.
“That would be a complete disaster for hard-working farming families, rural communities, and the wider New Zealand economy.”
Langford says farmers want to see a science-based approach that doesn’t ask farmers to go further than is required to avoid further increases to our warming impact.
“The current targets have never been supported by farmers because everyone felt they weren’t achievable or scientifically robust,” Langford says.
“Federated Farmers are pleased to see the Government have moved quickly to announce this review to give farmers confidence that what they’re being asked to do is fair.
“Appointing a highly credible and independent panel of scientists is the right approach to take, and Federated Farmers look forward to engaging in the process.”
In their announcement on June 27, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said the Government was delivering on its promise by getting the independent review underway.
“Cabinet has approved five appointees to the independent Ministerial advisory panel, including its chair, Nicola Shadbolt, who in addition to being a former climate change commissioner is a respected farmer, academic, and director with extensive governance experience,” Watts said.
The panel will also include Professor David Frame, Dr Sara Mikaloff-Fletcher, Dr Laura Revell, and Professor Bill Collins.
The panel members bring extensive New Zealand and international scientific experience across atmospheric physics and chemistry, understanding and quantifying greenhouse gas emissions, and climate modelling, Watts said.
McClay said the panel’s report will complement the Climate Change Commission’s review of the 2050 targets this year and will inform the Government’s response to the Commission’s advice in 2025.
“The Government is committed to meeting our climate change obligations without shutting down Kiwi farms.
“We need to make sure our targets are fair and sustainable,” McClay said.
“New Zealand farmers are some of the world’s most carbon-efficient food producers. It doesn’t make sense to send jobs and production overseas, while less carbon-efficient countries produce the food the world needs.”
McClay said the Government is investing more than $400 million over the next four years to ensure work to cut emissions doesn’t drive a drop in New Zealand’s agricultural production.
That investment will speed up the availability of tools and technology to reduce on-farm emissions, and includes an extra $50.5 million over the next five years to scale up investment in the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre.
“The upcoming consultation on the second emissions reduction plan will also cover plans to support the sector to reduce agricultural emissions in more detail,” McClay said.
“A strong New Zealand’s economy relies on a strong agricultural sector working sustainably towards our climate change goals.”
Federated Farmers, New Zealand’s leading independent rural advocacy organisation, has established a news and insights partnership with AgriHQ, the country’s leading rural publisher, to give the farmers of New Zealand a more informed, united and stronger voice. Federated Farmers news and commentary appears each week in its own section of the Farmers Weekly print edition and online.
