The politics of climate change
OPINION: The Financial Times, a major international newspaper, featured New Zealand on its front page at the beginning of June. It wasn't for the right reasons.
A GLOBAL AGREEMENT is needed on greenhouse gases, but New Zealand is leading agricultural research on cutting emissions and farmers are doing their bit, says Climate Change minister, Tim Groser.
Groser says the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change emphasises the need for a truly global agreement in 2015. The IPCC Working Group III report on the mitigation of climate change was released on Sunday (April 13). It says deep cuts in GHG emissions remain possible but there are significant challenges.
Groser says the report shows mitigation requires international cooperation. "New Zealand is doing its fair share on climate change, taking into account our unique national circumstances, both to restrict our own emissions and support the global efforts needed to make the cuts that will limit warming," he says
"We are leading international research into reducing agricultural emissions, which are a significant contributor to total global emissions. We are working with other countries in the Asia Pacific on the development of international carbon markets, and we are helping vulnerable Pacific neighbours adapt to climate change and mitigate its impacts, with more than $80 million pledged over the next three years.
"We are making inroads that will gradually restrict our own emissions. We are a country with a growing population, yet the emissions intensity of our economy has decreased by more than one quarter since 1990," he says
"At the same time agriculture GDP increased 48%, while emissions only went up by 12%. That means farmers have been producing more meat and milk for export, with fewer greenhouse gas emissions per kilo. New Zealand is also significantly ahead of most countries in limiting energy sector emissions, as our electricity supply is mostly renewable and we are heading towards a 90% renewable system by 2025.
"New Zealand has made an unconditional commitment to take responsibility for our own emissions, with a target of 5% below 1990 levels by 2020. This target is comparable with the targets of many other developed countries."
Federated Farmers is joining major industry-good bodies in not advocating for the Government to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
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