Climate change | Beef + Lamb New Zealand
Topics:
Environment

Climate change

The red meat sector has already made a significant contribution to addressing climate change, but is committed to further playing its part.

Progress to date 

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sheep and beef farming have decreased by 30 percent in absolute terms since 1990, while production levels have remained stable. 

We are also offsetting a significant proportion of our remaining emissions through the native and exotic trees on our farms. 

Taking action on climate change

Our sector is committed to the He Waka Eke Noa primary sector climate action partnership. 

Read more about our B+LNZ’s commitment to He Waka Eke Noa.  

B+LNZ supports farmers with practical tools and resources to respond to a changing climate and meet climate change commitments. The main way we provide support is through our farm planning process. 

Find out more about B+LNZ’s farm plans, including the ‘Responding to a changing climate’ chapter

Find out how we help farmers measure and manage their emissions through the GHG Calculator.

Key advocacy area: biogenic methane emissions reductions

We do not agree with the methane reduction targets set out in the Zero Carbon Act. We are calling on the Government to review the targets using the GWP* metric and to start reporting on the warming impact of various gases, in line with the latest international science. 

Find out more about what we’ve done in this area.

Key advocacy area: wholesale conversion of farmland for carbon farming

We have repeatedly called for limits in the ETS to address the wholesale conversion of productive sheep and beef farmland into forestry for carbon farming – find out more on this page

Climate change resources

Factsheets on climate change
Climate change resource links

MPI carbon sequestration look-up tables 
You can get a rough idea of carbon sequestration for post-1989 forest land by using the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) look-up tables.

B+LNZ GHG Calculator 
Provides a free, farmer facing tool to report the on-farm sequestration and emissions of the business, and reflects the individual farm’s livestock and production system. The tool is designed to help the red meat sector’s reporting requirements to satisfy He Waka Eke Noa regulations.

OverseerFM 
A more complex calculator that estimates on-farm emissions and their sources. It can be used to test the impact of farm management changes on emissions (and nutrient flows) before those changes are made. It also accounts for sequestration by trees.

Farmax 8 
Provides an estimate of on-farm emissions. It can be used to test the impact of farm management changes on emissions as well as animal production and profitability. It also accounts for sequestration.

AgMatters website 

Practical information, backed by science, to help farmers and growers get to grips with climate change.

MfE climate change resources 
The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) has a resource available that outlines likely future changes to the climate of each region and what that means for each region.

Extreme Dry Management Toolkit 
For more information on drought management, check out Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Extreme Dry Management Toolkit.

Flood management 
Resources for preparing for a flood, recovering from a flood and health & safety post-flood.

Snowstorm support 
Information on preparing for and responding to snow weather bombs, including factsheets and links to websites and organisations that can provide you with support.

He Waka Eke Noa: the Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership 
The He Waka Eke Noa programme will implement a framework by 2025 to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and build the agriculture sector’s resilience to climate change. Find more information about the key milestones and workstreams on the He Waka Eke Noa website.