Farmers Welcome Climate Change Announcement

20 September 2007

Farmers Welcome Climate Change Announcement

Federated Farmers welcomes that agriculture has been given more time to find ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions before joining an emissions trading scheme, said Charlie Pedersen, President of Federated Farmers of New Zealand.

“The government’s policy announced today is a good result which recognises that there is little to be gained by including agriculture at this time,”Mr Pedersen said.

“At present the only way to reduce emissions is to reduce production. Agriculture is New Zealand’s largest industry and export earner and less production means less income for rural communities, provinces and city people, and less taxes for the government.

“Waiting until 2013 will give researchers more time to extend their already ground-breaking work into new production systems which will lower greenhouse gases without cutting New Zealanders’ incomes,” Mr Pedersen said.

“Farmers do not shirk from the need to address climate change. They are seeking to make a positive contribution so all New Zealanders can gain in the long term.

“As there are currently few if any mitigation options available to farmers to help them reduce their on-farm methane and nitrous oxide emissions, it is imperative that research forms the basis of a long term plan for agricultural emissions. Price-based and regulatory measures to reduce emissions are pointless in the absence of worthwhile mitigation options.

“New Zealand farmers are already among the best in the world at producing the maximum amount of food with the smallest carbon footprint.

“If production from New Zealand was reduced or stopped, the world would be significantly worse off in its efforts to reduce emissions. If New Zealand food was replaced by food produced in the Northern Hemisphere, where much more energy is used in agriculture, overall emissions would go up.

“The world is better off with New Zealand agriculture continuing to produce. That is because meat and dairy products produced in New Zealand use less energy than food produced almost anywhere else.

“The Federation will need time to assess what the details in today’s announcement mean for our members. We hope those details are cost-effective, practical and support the economic viability and international competitiveness of New Zealand farmers,” Mr Pedersen said.

ENDS

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