New Zealand Cuts Biogenic Methane Emissions Targets

Credit: Dmitry Pichugin/Shutterstock

New Zealand has trim its methane emissions targets from agriculture, a move criticised by Greenpeace but welcomed by nan section farming group body.

The authorities of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced nan simplification successful biogenic methane emissions – those generated by nutrient and dairy livestock – targets yesterday (12 October), mounting a caller extremity by 2050 to execute cuts of 14-24% from 2017 levels.

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It antecedently sought to little biogenic methane emissions by 24-47% complete nan aforesaid timeframe. However, a extremity to trim those emissions by 10% by 2030 was near successful spot utilizing nan aforesaid 2017 yardstick.

Meanwhile, New Zealand is not moving distant from a target to scope nett zero successful position of greenhouse state emissions specified arsenic c dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide, excluding biogenic methane, by 2050.

Campaign group Greenpeace said nan caller target “amounts to full-blown ambiance denial”.

Changing Markets Foundation, nan NGO biology defense group, suggests methane is simply a “significant” contributor to world warming (0.5°C based connected 2023 information from nan Intergovernmental Panel connected Climate Change), compared to 0.8°C for CO2.

Amanda Larsson, a ambiance campaigner astatine Greenpeace Aotearoa, said successful yesterday’s connection that New Zealand’s determination is “truly astounding”.

She added: “Luxon has gone full-on Trump. He’s choosing ambiance denial and firm profits complete our kids’ future.

“New Zealand is nan world’s biggest dairy exporter. If we backmost down connected cutting emissions from our astir polluting industry, you tin stake different large livestock-producing countries will jump connected nan bandwagon. That could beryllium crippled complete for nan climate.”

Wayne Langford, nan president of Federated Farmers of New Zealand, said nan backtrack by nan authorities was “long overdue” and represents a “practical step” successful nan support of farmers.

He said nan erstwhile methane emissions target of 24-47% “lacked immoderate reliable subject to underpin it” and put New Zealand farmers astatine consequence of going retired of business.

“Kiwi farmers person been bogged down successful wholly unscientific, unaffordable and unrealistic ambiance argumentation for acold excessively long. At times it’s felt for illustration absolute madness that we’d moreover beryllium talking astir policies that would unopen down farms, nonstop accumulation offshore, and wholly undermine New Zealand’s economy,” he suggested.

Langford claimed New Zealand’s nutrient and dairy farmers are nan “most climate-friendly” successful nan world.

He added: “This caller target brings New Zealand’s ambiance argumentation successful statement pinch what nan investigation tells america is really required to extremity Kiwi farmers contributing to further warming.

“A methane taxation would person achieved nan other of its intent – forcing nan closure of Kiwi farms, driving accumulation to little businesslike countries, and expanding world emissions.”

Under New Zealand’s Climate Change Response Act, nan authorities is obliged to reappraisal nan 2050 targets each 5 years to “ensure they are fresh for purpose”, nan management confirmed successful yesterday’s statement.

A alleged “split-gas” attack has been taken to abstracted biogenic methane emissions from CO2 emissions. That is because methane emissions are considered a “short-lived greenhouse gas” arsenic opposed to long-lived pinch CO2, nan authorities said.

The 2050 biogenic methane target will beryllium adjacent reviewed successful 2040. Based connected existent projections, nan authorities said it is assured it tin execute nan 2050 goals of nett zero greenhouse gases and nan 24% trim successful methane emissions.

However, it added that “since 2050 is truthful acold successful nan future, there’s a precocious grade of uncertainty astir these projections”.