Monday, 23 April 2007

No plans to tax fertiliser, says United Future

Gordon Copeland, United Future’s spokesperson on climate change, today corrected newspaper reports that his party is planning a “fert tax” on nitrogen fertiliser.

“Our policy is quite clear,” said Mr Copeland. “Over 49% of New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions arise from farming activities; 33% relate to methane emissions from ruminant animals and 16% to other farm related activities.

“United Future believes that New Zealand should question the continued inclusion of methane emissions from ruminant animals within the Kyoto protocol rules since this is part of a naturally occurring digestive process.

“However our policy is that farmers will need to bear the cost of the other greenhouse gas emissions arising from their activities i.e. the remaining 16%.

"We have not used the word “tax” or suggested that the 16% relates simply to nitrogen fertiliser, which I understand is just 3.5% of the country’s emissions.

“We have pointed out that farmers will be able to offset non-ruminant animal emissions by planting trees on their own property or elsewhere (thus gaining offsetting carbon credits) and that we support an emissions trading system.”

ENDS

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