As you may be aware, the government is consulting on two options – an interim processor levy or the Primary Sector Climate Change Commitment for a farm based emissions pricing scheme. This proposal is supported by 11 primary sector organisations.
The guide includes specific advice on the nine questions in the government’s online consultation form, and can be found on B+LNZ’s website.
To make a submission go to the following website: Ministry for the Environment Action on Agricultural Emissions.
This is a very important issue and we strongly encourage you to make a submission.
We have also had some questions about B+LNZ’s submission on the Zero Carbon Bill.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand supports a target of a 10 percent gross reduction in methane emissions by 2050, which is consistent with the most recent science on methane out of Victoria University and the University of Oxford. You can read University of Oxford Professor Myles Allen’s research on the Oxford Martin website.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand also supports up to a further 12 percent net reduction in methane emissions by 2050. This is based on research by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment where methane has to be reduced by more if other countries are reducing their CO2 or N2O. We propose a net target to reflect the uncertainty around what other countries may do.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand does not support the Zero Carbon Bill’s current targets of a 10 percent gross reduction target by 2030, or the 24–47 percent gross reduction targets by 2050.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand does not support farming being in the Emissions Trading Scheme. That’s why we put forward the Primary Sector Climate Change Commitment that supports on-farm emissions budgeting by 2025 and no interim processor levy. If adopted by the government, the Commitment would also see farmers paying only for emissions exceeding their budgeted emissions, rather than all emissions.
Throughout this entire process Beef + Lamb New Zealand has balanced up the need to take climate change seriously by using a science-based approach while ensuring we are advocating in the best interests of our sheep and beef farmers.
