There is a better way to reduce emissions

A National government, like Labour, will be committed to reducing carbon emissions and acknowledges that the primary sector has an important role to play in doing that. Pricing emissions gives farmers an incentive to lower them, and National supports agriculture having its own process for recording and pricing emissions.

For three years, representatives of the primary sector and other stakeholders have worked through the He Waka Eke Noa (All in this Together) Partnership, to build a consensus approach to devise a new system.

In May, the partnership sent its recommendations to the Government but when the Government last week reported back its proposals, to apply from 2025, some key points that the partnership had suggested, were missing. In addition, the Government revealed that it anticipated that under its system, up to 20 per cent of the capacity of sheep and beef farming could be lost by 2030 – while seeing emissions increase offshore as production and jobs move overseas. This is as unacceptable to National as it is to farmers. Neither individual farmers, farming communities or the New Zealand economy want or can afford to sustain a blow like that. National believes that cost is unacceptable, especially when, with more care, there will be a better way to reduce emissions without so much damage.

New Zealand is the first country in the world to propose carbon pricing for farmers. New Zealand also already has the world’s most carbon-efficient farmers. In other words, producing a kilogram of milk solids here creates fewer emissions than producing a kg of milk solids in any other country.

National wants farmers to build on that advantage, not have it squandered by a government that seems prepared to let global demand for food be met by overseas farmers. That will simply lead to higher global emissions from agriculture – flying directly in the face of the whole purpose of the emissions scheme and costing Kiwi farmers income for no global environmental benefit.

In addition to the cost to farmers, communities and the New Zealand economy, and the prospect of farming shifting offshore, under the Government’s proposals farmers will not get enough credit for their on-farm carbon capture such as riparian planting or windbreaks.

It seems unfair to say on one hand that farmers will pay a cost for the carbon they create, but on the other hand get no benefit from some of the measures they introduce to sequester carbon on their farms or in their businesses.

What National will do

National supports methane targets but believes farmers, not Wellington bureaucrats, should decide how emissions come down.

We would negotiate a solution with the agriculture sector in good faith, using the proposal by He Waka Eke Noa as a starting point.

New Zealand’s primary sector is among the most sophisticated in the world, and adopts technological advances to improve production. A National Government would help drive new technology that would continue to lower agricultural emissions.

We would be more open to new options being trialled on farm as opposed to the highly restrictive approach from the current government. There are more gains to be had. We want to find them, and support farmers to succeed.

National also thinks that farmers should be allowed to earn revenue from more of their on-farm planting and carbon capture.

The Government is consulting on its plan for the next six weeks. New Zealanders should have their say and the Government should listen, then come back with a plan that has better support.

Todd Muller is National’s acting spokesperson on agriculture.