Editorial: Climate dilemma
OPINION: The farming sector, or at least some parts of it, are preparing for a battle with the Government over its latest international climate change target.
Groundswell is now in the process of running a campaign to get NZ out of the agreement, saying it is uniquely unfair to us.
Their call comes after Simon Watts announced NZ’s second international climate target, which stated that the Government was proposing to reduce emissions by 51 to 55% compared to 2005 levels by 2035.
He says the Government has worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious and achievable and reinforces our commitment to the Paris Agreement and global climate action.
“Meeting this target will mean we are doing our fair share towards reducing the impact of climate change, while enabling New Zealand to be stronger and thrive in the face of a changing climate,” he says.
But Bryce McKenzie of Groundswell says Watts is in a bind and says New Zealand doesn’t elect governments to play along with international games. He says they expect them to look out for our interests.
“They work for us, not the jet-setting global conference elite,” he says.
McKenzie says it’s the politicians’ jobs to stand up for us, rather than sacrifice the future of New Zealand to meet the arbitrary rules of the UN’s climate change process. He says Watts should have broken those rules and told his mates at the conferences why.
McKenzie says under the present system, all NZ can do is less – less farming, less electricity, less transport, less economic activity, less prosperity, less opportunity. Fewer jobs, fewer people, fewer hospitals and schools, fewer reasons for our kids to stay here.
The ACT Party, part of the Coalition Government, is throwing its support behind farmers.
The party’s agriculture spokesman Mark Cameron says, as a signatory to the Paris Agreement, New Zealand is required to sign up to increasingly ambitious emissions targets.
That’s what has led to the Climate Change Minister’s latest commitment, he told party supporters in an email.
“However, ACT has heard serious concern over the economic impact of the Government’s commitment, including costs likely to be lumped on farmers,” says Cameron.
“We know New Zealand farmers are the most efficient in the world, and it does not make sense to reduce New Zealand food production only to see other less efficient farmers overseas picking up the slack.
“In short, ACT is listening, and we encourage you to pass on your concerns to the Climate Change Minister and your local MP.”
Cameron claims ACT’s Ministers in the Government are delivering “common sense, affordable policy in key areas that affect farmers such as replacing the handbrake that is the RMA, simplifying freshwater farm plans, and stopping the implementation of last government’s attack on property rights with their directive on Significant Natural Areas”.
“I’ve also lodged a member’s bill in Parliament’s ballot to stop councils from considering local emissions when granting resource consents.
“ACT is determined not to sacrifice farmers and growers at the altar of the climate gods,” he says.
