Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

NZ farming remains at threat from ETS



The New Zealand

Climate Science Coalition

16 September 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NZ farming remains at threat from ETS

“New Zealanders know that their prosperity relies heavily on the farm sector” says Hon Barry Brill, chairman of the New Zealand Climate Science Coalition. “And yet the biggest threat to the future of farming is an attack by our own Government.

“The Government’s ETS Review Panel has recommended that all individual farmers have their biological emissions taxed as from 2015.

“No other country, anywhere in the world, has even considered imposing a climate tax on food production. The challenge of feeding 9 billion people by 2040 is almost universally seen as a much higher priority than a purely symbolic reduction in some animal emissions.”

“On the contrary, our major trading partners – including USA and Australia – have introduced schemes to reward farmers for taking CO2 from the atmosphere.”

“Why is New Zealand the odd man out? This masochistic approach approach had its genesis in the 2004 ambition of then Prime Minister Helen Clark to lead the world’s first carbon-neutral country. ‘World leadership’ became the catch cry.

“In most countries, fossil fuels make up the bulk of emissions. Because New Zealand has extremely low usage of coal and gas, animal emissions were targeted instead. By the curious logic of climate policy our animals are to be punished because we are world leaders in renewable energy,” said Mr Brill

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“Comparably strained logic drives the decision of the Review Panel. The following specific contradictory findings speak for themselves:
• By international standards, NZ meat and dairy products have a relatively low emissions intensity per unit of product.
• Over the last 20 years there have been reductions (yes, reductions) of around 1.3% pa in emissions per unit of product.
• Applying the ETS to agricultural emissions could lead to carbon leakage as production in other countries becomes more attractive.
• The impact on the average dairy farmer is estimated at $11,200pa, and sheep and beef farmer at $6,700 (excluding indirect effects).
• Farmer levies have already funded $18 million of research into emission abatement options (taxpayers have spent another $67 million).
• Commercial methods of mitigating methane emissions are a long way off.
• Bringing agriculture into the ETS will encourage farmers to invest in the development of abatement technologies,” Mr Brill concluded.

Ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.