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The Sustainable Finance Taxonomy is being developed by the Centre for Sustainable Finance and the Ministry for the Environment.
OPINION: For most farmers and readers, the term Sustainable Finance Taxonomy will make little sense.
But if Federated Farmers and Groundswell are to be believed, then the 'green' finance rules being devised by the Government risk doing real harm to rural communities.
The Sustainable Finance Taxonomy is being developed by the Centre for Sustainable Finance and the Ministry for the Environment to provide a consistent framework for defining what is 'green' or 'sustainable' in financial markets.
Federated Farmers says it would create major risks for New Zealand's agricultural sector and is urging the Government to halt the process entirely.
One of their core concerns is the lack of practical farming expertise involved in developing the taxonomy - there are no hands-on farmers involved with the Technical Advisory Group. Instead, it's full of shiny-shoed bankers, sustainability advisors, and forestry lobbyists, according to Feds.
In a letter sent to Ministers and key officials on July 11, Federated Farmers outlined a series of serious concerns with the Sustainable Finance Taxonomy.
Groundswell, which is keeping pressure on the Government to withdraw from the Paris climate change pact, claims under the taxonomy proposal, all farms would be classified as green, amber or red. If a farm is classified red, it is unable to align with Paris 1.5 degree and in the words of the proposal "the only way... is for them to be phased out".
The Government must come out and explain the NZ Taxonomy proposal.
Some farmers want the Government to disband the taxonomy process entirely, warning it will do more harm than good.
Critics believe that this isn't a path to sustainable finance. If their claims are right, that it is ideologically driven and practically unworkable, it risks serious harm to rural New Zealand.
OPINION: Recent media commentary from Southland Federated Farmers has raised concerns among our rural communities, particularly around Environment Southland’s approach to winter grazing inspections and nitrogen reporting. But let’s be clear, much of what’s been said simply doesn’t reflect reality.
OPINION: Environment Canterbury's (ECan) decision recently to declare a so-called “nitrate emergency” is laughable.
A shameless political stunt is how Federated Farmers is describing the Canterbury Regional Council decision to declare “a nitrate emergency” on the back of its latest annual groundwater quality survey.
OPINION: This old mutt is loath to sound like Groundswell has been topping up his bowl with brisket off-cuts, but the ginger group makes a good point about the arguments raised in favour of toeing the Paris Agreement line.
Federated Farmers say Environment Canterbury's decision to declare a 'nitrate emergency' is a shameless political stunt that won't help anyone.
Wouldn't it be great if the meat industry could get its hands on the $1.5 billion dollars it's missing out on because of non-tariff trade barriers (NTBs)?
Independent Waikato milk processor Tatua has set another new record for conventional farmgate milk price paid to New Zealand farmers.
OPINION: Environment Canterbury's (ECan) decision recently to declare a so-called “nitrate emergency” is laughable.
An early adopter of a 10-in-7 variable milking regime, the Lincoln University Demonstration Dairy Farm (LUDF) is tweaking the system this season in search of further boosting farm performance and profitability.
The dairy sector is in a relatively stable position, with strong milk price payout forecasts continuing to offset ongoing high farm costs, according to DairyNZ.
A shameless political stunt is how Federated Farmers is describing the Canterbury Regional Council decision to declare “a nitrate emergency” on the back of its latest annual groundwater quality survey.
OPINION: Dairy industry players are also falling by the wayside as the economic downturn bites around the country.
OPINION: Methane Science Accord, a farmer-led organisation advocating for zero tax on ruminant methane, will be quietly celebrating its first…
