Consultation on the Government's emissions pricing proposal

The Government has released its response to the He Waka Eke Noa Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership recommendations on the pricing of agricultural emissions. This page contains information on what B+LNZ is doing, how you can find out more, and what you can do.

Last updated 23 November 2022

Consultation has now closed. Read the submission B+LNZ provided to the Government here (PDF, 1MB) or our media release about our submission. You can also view the He Waka Eke Noa partners’ joint submission here.

What was released?

The Government released for consultation a discussion document outlining how it proposes to price agricultural greenhouse gas emissions from 2025.

The proposal contained some aspects of what was recommended by He Waka Eke Noa, but it differed in crucial respects.

You can find out more about the He Waka Eke Noa partners’ recommendations and the background to those recommendations here.

What was B+LNZ’s response to the Government’s proposals?

The Government’s proposal was not supported by B+LNZ. While we support the He Waka Eke Noa recommendations we did not support the Government’s proposals it consulted on.

While the Government proposed keeping agriculture out of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and instead pricing via a farm-level split-gas levy as recommended by He Waka Eke Noa, the changes it made fundamentally altered the balance of the agriculture sector’s proposals and were not acceptable to B+LNZ and our farmers.

The Government’s changes included the types of sequestration recognised and the factors that are relevant when setting emissions prices.

As a result of the changes, the Government’s own modelling shows that extensive farmers will be disproportionately and unfairly affected.

We understand this is concerning and frustrating for farmers. While we recognise everyone has a role in reducing emissions we will not accept a system that disproportionately puts our farmers and communities at risk.

How did we help farmers?

We strongly encouraged farmers to lodge their own submissions with the Government – this was their consultation.

To help, we developed submission guidance.

1. We provided a pre-written template

Farmers could send this pre-written submission direct to the Ministry for the Environment. Read what the submission said (PDF, 138KB).

2. We provided a factsheet on how to write a submission and a longer blank submission template

This was the best option for farmers wanting to get to grips with the issues in the Government’s proposals or provide supporting information and the like.

Feedback provided to B+LNZ also informed the submission we provided to the Government.

How could farmers find out more?

  • On the Government’s main consultation webpage on the MfE website – this contains all the consultation information. 
  • See also below for a range of resources, including a recording of one of the recent DairyNZ-B+LNZ webinars about what the Government has proposed.

How the proposals stacked up

Here’s a comparison of how the various options stacked up on key criteria.

It shows that the Government’s proposal, while better than the ETS, is significantly less acceptable than what was recommended by He Waka Eke Noa. This comparison was developed by DairyNZ.

image of carbon table

Background resources