Resilience best form of attack

Negotiations on agriculture’s role in global warming are travelling at the slow and deliberate pace of trade pact talks.

In the pre-Christmas week the Government reported an update to its plan, which followed a submission period, after a document came out in October, following consultations. More talks are to follow.

Kid-gloves treatment of farming frustrates activists, because the agricultural sector makes up half of New Zealand’s gross greenhouse gas emissions.

There’s also broad public support for stronger action on climate.

The Government is trying to get industry buy-in on a emissions levy by 2025. Farm emissions would be priced outside the Emissions Trading Scheme. National is having it both ways by saying it intends to have a levy but is waiting and seeing as talks continue.

Methane accounted for 43.5 per cent of New Zealand’s gross greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, with nearly 89 per cent produced by livestock.

Carbon dioxide was 43.7 per cent of the total, with transport at 38 per cent contributing the most. Overall, agriculture produced 50 per cent and energy 40 per cent of gross emissions in 2020.

Still, there are very valid reasons for caution and taking time to get pricing right with agriculture, a foundation stone of the economy.

In the meantime, decarbonisation moves for transport are well underway, such as electrification, more use of public options, a diversity of ways of getting around, and pedestrian-friendly areas. Export revenue for food and fibre is forecast to reach $55 billion in the year to June 30, 2023, according to the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Long-term strategy for New Zealand also has to take into account the global picture of how climate change — through environmental damage and competition for resources — will affect food production in the years ahead.

The past five years have been the hottest period in recorded history in New Zealand.

But the country enters the next few decades of warming from a mild temperature base.

It will be better placed than many other countries to maintain high levels of food production, even if the types of goods change.

This country has to adapt to what happens — from trade opportunities, to overseas supply shocks, by changing how goods are produced and limiting the damage from floods and droughts.

New Zealand’s resilience has to be built to ensure the country can cope with what’s coming.

While going on the offence, we can’t neglect our defence.