increase font size
Tim Mackle.
DairyNZ has voiced to Parliament strong opposition to some aspects of the Zero Carbon Bill.
Especially it opposes the proposal to reduce emissions of biogenic methane to within a range of 24% to 47% below 2017 levels by 2050.
DairyNZ was last week among thousands of groups and individuals lodging submissions on the Bill. Parliament’s environment select committee will hear the submissions and report in October.
Chief executive Dr Tim Mackle says it agrees with much of the Bill, eg five yearly review of targets and the setting up of an independent climate change commission. He says DairyNZ accepts the 10% target for 2030 as a big challenge but doesn’t necessarily support it.
“Regarding the 2050 targets of 24 to 47 %, this number is not grounded in science or economics in the NZ context. This range for methane, combined with reducing nitrous oxide to net zero, goes beyond expert scientific advice for what is necessary for New Zealand agriculture to limit global warming to no more than 1.5°C.
“It is very important to get the range right. If we get this wrong it will have significant impacts on not just the dairy sector, but the economic, social and cultural wellbeing of NZ,” Mackle says.
DairyNZ has looked long at the science of climate change of which the Zero Carbon Bill is a part, Mackle says. Related to this are essential fresh water, animal care, looking after people and pursuing a competitive, profitable industry. A single focus is unhelpful. It must all be integrated in a farm systems context.
The conflict of various scientific views is being raised regarding the Zero Carbon Bill and other climate change issues.
“Scientists don’t always agree,” Mackle says. “As a former scientist myself I can tell you that. They are just like politicians and others. That is the nature of the beast.”
He wants to see change in the talk about emissions in volume terms. Instead he wants the narrative to change to the topic of reducing emissions warming, which is the desired outcome.
With much of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
There has been a bit of discussion in the media lately about the Paris climate agreement and whether New Zealand should withdraw from it.
After 20 years of milking cows, Northland farmer Greg Collins is ready to step into the governance side of dairy.
For some Canterbury teenagers, their career is being shaped by hands-on experience in a sector they are passionate about - dairy farming.
Dairy farmers will be paying a new levy rate of 4.5c/kgMS - an extra 0.9c/kgMS - to industry-good body DairyNZ from June 1 this year.
Recent rain has offered respite for some from the ongoing drought.
New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
With much of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.
For Wonky Box co-founder Angus Simms, the decision to open the service to those in rural areas is a personal one.
The golden age of orcharding in West Auckland was recently celebrated at the launch of a book which tells the story of its rise, then retreat in the face of industry change and urban expansion.
OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.
OPINION: After years of financial turmoil, Canterbury milk processor Synlait is now back in business.
