This week B+LNZ released important new research into how other countries treat issues such as agricultural GHG reduction targets and approaches to reducing emissions. The Government has announced measures to curb farm sales into forestry. There were also announcements relating to NZ’s methane targets.
These announcements are directly related to much of the advocacy work B+LNZ has undertaken over the past few years and include welcome recognition from the Government in key areas.
Release of independent research on climate change policies globally
B+LNZ has released independent research that looked at how a broad cross-section of international jurisdictions treat issues such as agricultural GHG reduction targets and approaches to reducing agricultural emissions.
The research shows New Zealand is out of step internationally and the narrative that New Zealand agriculture was ‘let off the hook’ by excluding ruminant agricultural emissions from being priced in the ETS is simply not true.
We’re urging the Government to consider alternative approaches to achieving emissions reductions. Consistent with approaches internationally, New Zealand should put the importance of food production at the heart of climate policy and support or reward farmers for taking action to reduce emissions, rather than penalising them.
Access the media release and links to the full report and our summary report here.
Government announcement of measures to curb farm sales to carbon farming
B+LNZ has welcomed the announcement of measures to address the amount of productive sheep and beef farmland being lost to carbon farming.
The Government has announced rules to limit whole-farm to forestry conversions entering the Emissions Trading Scheme.
B+LNZ has been calling for action since 2019, alongside concerned farming groups. The regular independent research B+LNZ has commissioned on the amount of whole-farm sales has led the conversation, making the scale of the problem all too clear.
Read our media release for more information.
Independent Scientific Review on Biogenic Methane Science and Targets
B+LNZ has welcomed the findings of the independent panel appointed by the Government to review the science and targets relating to biogenic methane.
The panel’s finding is that reductions in the range of 14-24 percent by 2050 would see methane not add any additional warming from 2017 levels, depending on how quickly the rest of the world reduces its emissions. This is an improvement on the current methane targets but would still be a stretch for our sector.
B+LNZ encourages the Government to consider the independent panel’s findings carefully and to make a swift decision so that farmers have certainty. We also want enduring solutions so that the methane targets do not become a political football.
Climate Change Commission’s methane reduction target recommendations
In contrast, the Climate Change Commission is recommending to the Government that New Zealand’s methane reduction targets be made even more ambitious than they currently are.
We are deeply concerned about these recommendations. We continue to argue that New Zealand’s targets are already too high and methane should only be asked to do what is being asked of other gases, which is to achieve no additional warming.
Read our media release about this.
Related work
The Government is also conducting a short consultation calling for feedback on its second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) – our international target – covering our emissions reductions between 2031–2035 under the Paris Agreement.
B+LNZ is providing detailed feedback on the next NDC but if you want to submit your own feedback, you can use a prewritten submission template we’ve developed – access it here, along with further information about the consultation. Note the consultation closes 8 December.