New Zealand Govt Proposes to Reduce Agricultural Emissions

The New Zealand government has released a proposal to reduce agricultural emissions for public comment, which will help the country gain a "competitive advantage in a green-conscious global marketplace," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday.

According to Xinhua, Ardern's proposal will also put New Zealand on track to meet the Zero Carbon Act 2030 methane reduction target. Based on advice from the Climate Change Commission, the government has included many of the agriculture sector groups' recommendations for farm-level emissions pricing, as well as proposed modifications, in the consultation document.

"This is an important step forward in New Zealand's transition to a low-emission future, and it fulfils our promise to price agricultural emissions beginning in 2025," Ardern said.

According to the Prime Minister, the proposal aims to give New Zealand farmers control over their farming system, as well as the ability to reduce costs through revenue generated by the system being recycled back to farmers, which will fund additional research, tools and technology, and incentives to reduce emissions.

"New Zealand is taking on the challenge of becoming one of the first nations in the world to price agricultural greenhouse gas emissions," University of Auckland School of Environment Honorary Professor Troy Baisden said.

According to Robyn Dynes, a senior scientist at AgResearch, this approach will provide clear incentives to reduce emissions, with a portion of the revenue generated by the pricing system being directed back into research to identify and develop greenhouse gas mitigations.