Summarised by Centrist
The coalition will now keep agriculture out of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), as per its electoral pledge, RNZ reports. This has firstly seen the shut-down of sector-led methane-reduction group He Waka Eke Noa and the set-up of a new Pastoral Sector Group. Unsurprisingly, green stakeholders have criticised this.
Amendments to the Climate Change Response Act now remove animal processors, fertiliser and agricultural companies from entering the ETS in 2025, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has announced.
The coalition has also announced it’s going to invest $400 million until 2028 to accelerate tool and tech commercialisation to reduce on-farm emissions.
McClay says his position is that Kiwi farmers need help with research and development “to reduce methane, not productivity.”
The new Pasture Sector Group is supported by Federated Farmers as well as Beef + Lamb, whose chair Kate Acland welcomed the disestablishment of He Waka Eke Noa, suggesting that group had lacked transparency.
Green stakeholders and climate change advocates such as Chlöe Swarbrick responded saying that removing agricultural industry from the ETS is the government simply kicking climate action down the road.
“Climate delay is the new denial,” Swarbrick said.
