13 September 2018

MEDIA RELEASE

B+LNZ welcomes Sir Peter Gluckman’s report on agricultural emissions

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) welcomes the final report from the Prime Minister’s former Chief Science Advisor Sir Peter Gluckman which effectively endorses B+LNZ’s approach for individual farm plans as a tool for helping the agricultural sector play its part in combating climate change.

In May of this year in launching its Environment Strategy B+LNZ set itself two ambitious goals – for the sheep and beef sector to be carbon neutral by 2050 and for every farm to have an active farm plan by the end of 2021.

“Sir Peter Gluckman’s report aligns with what our sector is already working on,” says B+LNZ’s Chief Insight Officer Jeremy Baker.

“His report notes the contribution the sheep and beef sector has already made in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions (a 30 per cent reduction on 1990 levels), the importance of acknowledging offsets, and the value of farm planning as an effective tool to manage environment challenges,” says Mr Baker.

“We’re also pleased to see that Sir Peter Gluckman recognises the work that the sector has been doing with the Taste Pure Nature origin brand and the opportunities this can create to leverage New Zealand’s environmental advantages, and that his report supports the split gas approach for short-term and long-term greenhouse gases.”

In his report Sir Peter Gluckman also reinforces the importance of focusing on offsets alongside emissions.

“With 1.4 million hectares of native forest and 180,000 hectares of plantation forestry on sheep and beef farms there is already significant carbon sequestering taking place in the sector,” says Mr Baker.

“Incorporated as part of a farm plan that’s been developed with expert and scientific advice, crediting farmers at the farm level for on farm offsets such as blocks of native forest will be a powerful tool in incentivising the type of farming practices New Zealand needs to meet its climate change obligations. Beef + Lamb New Zealand is currently working on initiatives on how to measure and include these emissions and offsets in farm planning.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media