New Zealand’s Productivity Commission has published a summary of the submissions received for its report on the “low-emissions economy”, showing how the farming industry considers the challenges of upcoming climate legislation.

Federated Farmers New Zealand said “the objective should be to stabilise emissions rather than aim to aggressively cut them”, especially at a time when technologies are under development to reduce methane and competing countries may not adopt the same rules.

Also quoted among key submissions, agricultural consultant Steven Cranston told the Irish Farmers Journal recent research in New Zealand and abroad showed cutting methane emissions by 0.3% each year would be sufficient to stop further warming. He added that Kiwi farmers, who have already planted 1.4m ha of trees, could increase this to compensate emissions of other greenhouse gases: “Trees could offset nitrous oxide emissions and the industry could prove that it’s zero warming.”

Cranston said farmers in New Zealand and Ireland alike should “put their front foot first” and promote this “warming neutral” approach voluntarily: “Start demonstrating that your industry is not causing as much warming as people believe, plant trees to offset nitrous oxide and you can start changing the narrative.”

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