96% Of Farmers Oppose Ratification Of Kyoto Protocol
With one in every three submissions coming from individual farmers on the Government’s climate change consultation paper
late last year Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc) was prompted to conduct a survey of some of its 17,000 members
throughout New Zealand.
The aim of the survey was to gauge farmer reaction in respect to the Government’s stated intent to ratify the Kyoto
Protocol at the Rio +10 World Earth Summit in Johannesburg later this year.
“The overwhelming response of farmers surveyed clearly shows that there are grave concerns among the farming community
with the Government’s seemingly premature intent to ratify the Kyoto Protocol” said Federated Farmers President Alistair
Polson.
96.2% of farmers surveyed oppose the Government ratifying the Kyoto Protocol whilst significant uncertainties remain in
New Zealand agriculture’s contribution to climate change.
96.8% of farmers surveyed oppose the Government ratifying the Kyoto Protocol without having first worked out its
strategy to meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol.
96.4% of farmers surveyed oppose the Government ratifying the Kyoto Protocol before our key trading partners.
“The results of this survey and the high proportion of farmer submissions to Government clearly highlights that climate
change and the Kyoto Protocol is being taken seriously by farmers in New Zealand.”
“This is in light of the relatively recent entry of agriculture into the climate change policy process. Where other
sectors have been involved for a number of years, the agriculture sector has been playing catch-up since April of last
year.”
“There is no point in rushing into potentially high cost / low impact action where a more cautious approach could allow
time to develop potentially low cost / high impact options.”
“For the Government to consider ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, before clearly outlining the implications of meeting New
Zealand’s obligations under the Protocol, flies in the face of rational policy-making.” concluded Mr Polson.
ENDS