B+LNZ’s bottom lines on climate change policy

We know some farmers remain concerned about climate change policy settings that could affect the future viability of our sector.

Here’s a further update on some of the critical issues we’re pushing the Government for action on.

Our bottom lines

• New Zealand’s domestic methane targets must be amended, based on no additional warming.
• Any targets must not put our economy or rural communities at risk, nor send food production overseas to less efficient producers.
• The pricing of agricultural emissions must be taken off the table.
• Farmers must be able to choose whether or not they use new tools and technologies to reduce their emissions, and we must step carefully through rolling out new technologies to ensure they are safe. 

Following is more information on these bottom lines. 

New Zealand’s domestic methane targets 

New Zealand’s domestic methane targets are currently for a 24-47 percent reduction on 2017 levels by 2050.

The Government commissioned an independent review of our domestic methane targets that reported back in December, but they haven’t announced any changes as a result. This is creating confusion and concern.

• We’re urging the Government to swiftly amend our domestic methane targets in line with the principle of no additional warming.
• Methane should only be asked to do what is expected of other gases – unlike long-lived gases like carbon dioxide, methane only needs to decline by a modest amount to not add additional warming – rather than reach zero to achieve this.
• The independent review showed a 14 percent reduction in methane would see agriculture add no additional warming by 2050, if all other countries do what they said they were going to do.
• It also showed a 24 percent reduction would be needed if the world was on track to hold global temperature increases below 1.5 degrees, which looks very unlikely.
• The Government’s modelling indicates 31,000 hectares of new trees may need to be planted each year until 2050 for New Zealand to achieve the 24 percent target. This is not okay, and further wholesale farm conversions need to be severely limited.
• Reaching a 24 percent target is also based on an assumption of widespread adoption of technologies that have not yet come to market.  
• Any international targets or commitments should be based on the principle of no additional warming, using a split gas approach that recognises the different role of methane in warming, and the importance of food production.

Taking agricultural emissions pricing off the table

Removing the threat of emissions pricing is essential to restore farmer confidence in the future of our sector.  

• The Government is still talking about putting a price on agricultural emissions by 2030.
• The prospect of pricing is undermining farmer confidence and is unnecessary.
• The latest GHG inventory figures show that our sector has made significant progress towards the 2030 targets, driven by the conversion of sheep and beef farms into forestry.  There is therefore no need to price.  

Stepping carefully through any new technologies

Many farmers have told us they are interested in having the option of technologies to tackle methane reductions. However, some farmers have significant concerns around feed additives and animal treatments, and we respect these concerns.

• We absolutely reject any attempt to force farmers to use tools and technologies, such as through emissions pricing.
• Tools such as vaccines may be a useful choice for farmers as some customers are looking for, and may reward, more emissions-efficient products.
• It is critical however that the proper processes are followed to ensure any tools are safe from both a consumer food safety and animal welfare perspective.
• An independent survey commissioned by B+LNZ in 2024 using a randomised representative sample of farmers showed just over half of farmers were interested in using tools or technologies to help manage on-farm emissions, with most agreeing this should be market-led rather than Government-mandated. The survey results are available here.

Recent activity

• We recently coordinated a visit by Dr Frank Mitloehner from UC Davis to meet with officials and MPs to continue to build understanding of the different warming impact of methane and how pricing emissions is not the answer. More info on Dr Mitloehner’s visit in this story.
• In May Kate Acland visited the UK, Europe and the USA. One of the objectives of this trip was to build a global consensus with farming and sector groups across these countries around the role of methane in warming and to push for a broader uptake of split gas targets and recognition of the short-lived nature of methane. More detail on the trip coming soon.
• We are pressing the Government to close loopholes in the guidance around intent to plant forestry, as part of last year’s announcement on limiting carbon forestry, as highly productive farmland has continued to be sold into forestry this year. More info on our efforts to close the loopholes here.

We hope you found this useful. As always, if you have any questions or comments please let us know.