Call for balance in emissions target
July 20th, 2009
NZ’s post-2012 climate change policies, including any 2020 emissions target, must balance environmental and financial implications. Meat & Wool NZ Chairman, Mike Petersen, says recent announcements from the Govt indicate emissions trading is here to stay and will include agricultural emissions. “These issues are critical for sheep and beef farming businesses as they will set the direction for pastoral farming for the next 50 years.”
Petersen says any 2020 emissions target for NZ needs to have international credibility, be achievable and realistic, and minimise harm to NZ’s economy and the industries which have a long-term competitive advantage in NZ such as agriculture. “No other country is including agriculture in its climate change response. If the US and China – the two largest emitters, responsible for 40% of global emissions were to reach a deal then this will set a precedent for what will be agreed elsewhere. But, neither the US nor China are including agricultural emissions in their thinking.”
Petersen is encouraging the farming community to engage in public consultation on a 2020 emissions target and other issues related to climate change because there is no way the agricultural sector or NZ can afford to set a target which will hamstring its major export industries. For more information on the 2020 targets public consultation and how to have your say see http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/climate/nz-2020-emissions-target/nz-2020-emissions-target.pdf
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