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New
Zealand, home to 5 million people, has about 10 million cattle
and 26 million sheep and nearly half its total greenhouse gas
emissions come from agriculture, mainly methane.
It is one of the first countries to announce it will price
agricultural emissions, but the government has faced criticism
from parts of the farming community which is concerned about the
cost. It has moved to address some of these concerns ahead of an
October election, where it is trailing in the polls.
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said pricing of such
emissions would start in the fourth-quarter of 2025, back from a
previously planned start in the first quarter to give farmers
more time to adjust.
“It’s important the system to manage and price agricultural
emissions is workable, effective, fiscally responsible and set
up to last. That’s why we’re taking a measured approach," he
said in a statement.
Scientifically validated carbon sequestration such as tree
planting around waterways and indigenous forestry would be
recognised in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme, he
added.
New Zealand's red-meat lobby groups said they were "dismayed" by
the plan.
“There is no sound rationale for pricing when the sector is
making good progress towards meeting emissions reduction
targets,” Kate Acland, chair of Beef + Lamb New Zealand, said in
a statement.
The government says that along with meeting commitments to cut
emissions, demand was growing from foreign buyers for
agricultural products that have sustainability credentials.
National, the largest opposition party, says it will only look
to price farm emissions by 2030.
(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Stephen Coates)
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