HWEN no longer!

Since being elected as Beef + Lamb New Zealand (BLNZ) chair just over six months ago, farmers have been telling me about their frustrations at the wave of unworkable policies and rules. Not only are many of the rules impractical, but they won't lead to better environmental outcomes.

That's been reinforced by conversations with farmers at BLNZ woolshed meetings across the country in May and June.

There is still some confusion among farmers and commentators about BLNZ's position on emissions pricing and we have been working hard over the past few months to outline our stance.

I want to be clear that we no longer support the original He Waka Eke Noa proposal that was put to Government in 2021. This is in response to the very clear message that we received from farmers.

We're advocating instead for the focus to be on setting up a measurement and reporting framework that is practical and useful for farmers.

This will likely be useful for farmers for meeting the reporting requirements of banks and later meat processors and exporters. It could also provide those farmers looking to reduce emissions with the data to make more informed decisions around their farming systems.

We do not believe that pricing is justified, particularly because our sector is likely to hit the legislated emissions reduction target, which is already higher than scientifically justified.

We are focused on getting the current methane targets reviewed and amended based on a warming approach.

The global understanding of climate change science has evolved significantly since New Zealand’s targets were set in 2019.

BLNZ partnered with Federated Farmers and DairyNZ to commission research led by internationally respected climate scientist Professor Myles Allen, professor of Geosystem Science at the UK’s Oxford University, to measure the warming impact of New Zealand’s current methane targets.

The report was timed for the start of the Climate Change Commission’s review of the methane targets in 2024. The research confirmed that the current targets are too high and would see methane offset all of the expected additional warming from carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide from the entire New Zealand economy.

The current targets would see New Zealand peak its warming in the 2030s and reverse back to 2022-27 levels – well ahead of most other countries, which are currently aiming to achieve peak warming (‘net zero’) from 2050.

The research also found that if other countries meet their existing emissions reduction commitments, then a 15% reduction in methane would see New Zealand methane contribute no additional warming from 2020 levels.

This is significantly lower than the current government-set methane reduction range of 24-47% and demonstrates the importance of taking a warming-centred approach to emissions reduction.

BLNZ, alongside DairyNZ and Federated Farmers, is also pushing for the reporting of warming in conjunction with emissions.

It is critical we consider the most up-to-date science to give farmers confidence about what they are being asked to do. This research will help work out the most appropriate way agriculture can contribute to New Zealand’s climate goals.

It will make a critical contribution to the conversation about climate change and around the serious equity concerns for farmers who may be being asked to do more of the heavy lifting, and bear more of the cost, than other parts of the economy.

We have submitted this research to the Climate Change Commission and are asking them to take these findings into account and set targets based on a climate warming approach.

Climate change is an issue that’s not going to go away, but we are focused on getting a fair outcome with policy settings that sees farmers play their role without putting our production at risk.

In addition to this work to get the policy settings right, we are continuing to invest in the tools to help farmers reduce their emissions, which may provide an opportunity for agriculture to be part of the solution and be rewarded for the role we play.

We will continue to go into bat for farmers and New Zealand’s rural communities to ensure we are not being asked to do more than our fair share in emissions reductions, that we are rewarded for our efforts in any reductions we make and recognised for the role sequestration on our farms play.

Kate Acland is chair of Beef+Lamb NZ.