Easier than you might think to know your greenhouse gas numbers
Federated Farmers argues pricing of agricultural emissions (via the ETS or any other mechanism) should only be considered if it occurs at the margin for methane (i.e. where additional atmospheric warming occurs), if farmers have cost effective mitigation tools, and if NZ farmers are not put at a disadvantage with our main international trading competitors.
Nevertheless, at its launch in 2019, Federated Farmers became a foundation partner of He Waka Eke Noa: The Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership.
We are working together with government, Ma¯ ori agribusiness, and our farmers and growers, on practical solutions to reduce New Zealand’s emissions and build resilience to climate change.
The following Q&A will give you a picture of what it all means.
Why do I need to know my numbers? Knowing a farm’s nitrous oxide and methane numbers is the first step towards managing, and knowing how to reduce, on-farm emissions.
By the end of 2022, all farms in Aotearoa New Zealand need to know their greenhouse gas numbers.
If our farms don’t meet the milestones that the primary sector agreed with Government, we are at risk of losing the chance to develop our own systems for measuring and managing emissions, and instead will just face a tax on emissions at the processor level, much as we all pay already for fuel. This doesn’t help farmers to understand their emissions and proactively improve, nor recognise sequestration such as from native forest on farm.
Our farmers are world-leaders and the He Waka Eke Noa programme is also a world-leading approach to agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. The power to make it work is in your hands.
Who needs to get on board?
Farms need to know their numbers by the end of 2022 if they are 80ha or more, or have a dairy supply number, or are a cattle feedlot as defined in freshwater policy.
It’s already happening. Since December last year when the first Greenhouse Gases: Farm Planning Guidance was released, industry bodies have been incorporating information relevant to their levy payers into their Farm Environment Plans. Most dairy processers already have greenhouse gas numbers in their reports.
What is the farm planning guidance? The guidance sets out basic principles to guide farmers, growers, and advisors, with practical information on opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to capture carbon.
What tools can I use?
Seven different greenhouse gas calculation methods have been assessed and classified so far: HortNZ, MfE, Alltech, E2M, Fonterra/AIM, Farmax and Overseer.
Other tools are in development and will be assessed and added to the list.
Where do I get advice?
Farmers wanting advice are encouraged to talk to their industry representative, supply company, or other trusted advisors, about knowing their numbers and incorporating GHG into Farm Environment Plans. The reports are also available on the He Waka Eke Noa website (http:/ /hewakaekenoa.nz)
More about He Waka Eke Noa
He Waka Eke Noa – the Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership – is the primary sector, Ma¯ ori and Government working together on climate change and agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.
Working with farmers and growers, the partnership is committed to achieving a solution that is practical for the primary sector, rewards efforts to reduce emissions and increase sequestration, and supports the sector’s future success.
By 2025 the partnership will develop and implement a framework to empower farmers and growers to measure, manage and reduce on-farm emissions; recognise, maintain or increase integrated sequestration on farms; and adapt to a changing climate.
The farm definition and tools available now for farms understanding their emissions may differ to the definition and tools approved for the farm-level
emissions-pricing system that is being developed for 2025.
For more information talk to your industry body, go to http://hewakaekenoa. nz, or mail yourfeedback@hewakaekenoa. nz.
Partners:
● Beef + Lamb New Zealand
● Dairy NZ
● Federated Farmers of New Zealand
● Horticulture NZ
● Federation of Ma¯ ori Authorities (FOMA)
● Ministry for the Environment (MfE)
● Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI)
● Foundation for Arable Research (FAR)
● Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ)
● Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ)
● Meat Industry New Zealand (MIA)
● Irrigation New Zealand
● Apiculture NZ
What are New Zealand’s greenhouse gas targets?
International targets
• 30 per cent reduction below 2005 (or 11 percent below 1990) gross emissions for the period 2021-2030.
Domestic targets
• Net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases other than biogenic methane by 2050
• 24 to 47 percent below 2017 biogenic methane emissions by 2050, including 10 percent below 2017 biogenic methane emissions by 2030.