New Zealand Abandons Plan to Price Agricultural Emissions
New Zealand has ended a plan to put a price on agricultural emissions including methane produced by burping sheep and cattle, relenting to farmer pressure that it would make their business unprofitable.
The conservative government would establish a Pastoral Sector Group with representatives from the agricultural sector to find other ways to reduce biogenic methane, it said in a statement on Tuesday.
The previous government had introduced a plan to charge farmers for their gas emissions from the end of 2025, in what was hailed as a world first.
See also: Victory for Europe’s protesting farmers as Brussels backs down on net zero
New Zealand had been planning on including agriculture in the emissions trading scheme as part of its commitment to stop global warming.
However, the plan was unpopular in many parts of the rural sector and the current government promised to end it if elected.
“It’s time for a fresh start on how we engage with farmers and processors to work on biogenic methane,” said Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, adding the government was committed to meeting its climate change obligations.
Lucy Craymer | The North West Star
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