Climate Change
Kyoto Protocol and Federated Farmers
Climate change is a global issue needing global solutions. New Zealand's farmers understand that. However, Federated Farmers members strongly believe that it is unjustifiable and inappropriate for the government to bind New Zealand to emissions reduction commitments and certain economic hardship for little if any environmental benefit.
Federated Farmers opposed the government's 2002 ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and remains opposed to it.
Federated Farmers opposes the inclusion of agriculture in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.
Emissions trading and agriculture
In September 2007 the government announced that it would be introducing a domestic emissions trading scheme that will cover all gases and all sectors of the economy, including agriculture.
This decision by the government will see on-farm fuel and electricity prices increase as well as significantly affect how Federated Farmers members manage their land and make business decisions.
In recognition of the differing ability of different sectors to take action to reduce their emissions, the government is staging the introduction of various sectors into the scheme. Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture will be brought into the emissions trading scheme from 1 January 2013.
Before the final reading of the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill, Federated Farmers unsuccessfully pleaded with all political parties not to pass the Bill, given its rushed nature and impact on agriculture as New Zealand's biggest economic driver. From 2011, farmers and consumers alike will be faced with massive hikes in the cost of fuel, petrol, electricity and other basic commodities. From 2018, a graduated reduction in New Zealand's agricultural output will be required in order for farmers to meet their emission targets.
New Zealand is gifted at producing food with the lowest carbon footprint. As New Zealand is the only country on earth to include farm animals in an Emission Trading Scheme, a lot of our farms will become uneconomic. The graduated reduction in New Zealand's agricultural output to meet emission targets will simply shift production to less efficient countries. What may reduce New Zealand's emissions on one hand will be worse for the world.
Understanding emissions trading
The Federation and other pastoral sector organisations are working with officials to understand the issues arising from bringing pastoral agriculture into a domestic emissions trading scheme.
Measurement and the modelling of emissions at farm level are essential if farmers are to be rewarded for stripping carbon from their production systems.
This work will help support a broader programme to ‘footprint' food production so that we are better able to address emerging international trade concerns from New Zealand exporting product into offshore markets. Research into new technologies that could reduce on-farm emissions is essential to support New Zealand farming's reputation as world's best practice.
New Zealand's farmers actually have a great story to tell. While agriculture contributes 0.1% of global emissions we actually feed almost 1% of the World's population. Our highly efficient farmers feed up to ten times more people than the emissions produced.
Finding a solution
Despite the stumbling blocks, emissions trading still represents a potentially less restrictive approach than regulatory controls and certainly a more flexible approach than other price-based measures.
Federated Farmers is working positively with government to help provide solutions to problems surrounding New Zealand's commitment to the Kyoto Protocol.
The Federation is also looking internationally at what other countries are doing and at the negotiations for the rules around the Kyoto Protocol's second commitment period. The rules and targets agreed under this framework will have a significant impact on the treatment of agricultural emissions from 2013 onwards. It is important that the international community understand the importance of not constraining food production at a time when world food reserves are down to just 35 days.
With 800 million people, right now, living in food poverty and 80 million new mouths being born each year our world needs the most carbon efficient producers of food, like New Zealand, to be at their best and not kneecapped by emissions liabilities.
Who speaks for farmers on climate change
The spokesman for climate change on the National Board is Frank Brenmuhl. You can contact him: fbrenmuhl@fedfarm.org.nz.
Our policy advisor for climate change is Jacob Haronga. Jacob has worked on climate change policy for the Federation since 2001. He can be contacted on 0800 327 646 or jharonga@fedfarm.org.nz.
