Fonterra welcomes Govt’s climate change policy

Media release
21 September 2007

Fonterra welcomes Government’s climate change policy

Fonterra supports today’s climate change policy announcement by the Government which recognises the need to give agriculture more time before entering into an emissions trading scheme.

Fonterra Sustainability Leadership Team Chairman, Barry Harris, says the industry is already working on practical ways to reduce agricultural greenhouse gases and today’s announcement will mean this work can be ramped up even more.

“The $45 million additional funding the Government has committed to this research over the next five years will ensure New Zealand continues to lead the world in this field through the work of the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium, in which Fonterra is a key participant and investor.

“Fonterra is already active in educating and empowering its farmers on ways to reduce on-farm emissions. Initiatives include, educating farmers about nutrient budgeting, using nitrification inhibitors and making energy savings.

“We will be working with Government to expand our efforts by setting up on-farm reporting and monitoring of greenhouse gases and the allocation of the extra funding will assist in achieving this,” says Mr Harris.

Fonterra already monitors carbon dioxide emissions from its manufacturing sites and simulates an emissions trading scheme between sites. Initiatives in energy efficiency, transport and the use of renewable energy have cut carbon dioxide emissions from its manufacturing sites by 28 per cent per tonne of product since 1990.

Mr Harris says the establishment of a Peak Group to engage stakeholders from the pastoral sector more widely will also help drive agriculture’s entry into the emissions trading scheme.

ENDS

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