Primary sector organisations want say on emissions

Primary sector partners have met and signalled a united determination to advocate strongly for farmers, on emissions pricing.

Last week the leaders of DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+L NZ) and Federated Farmers met to discuss emissions pricing and to reaffirm common position between the three organisations, to enable them to move forward together and advocate strongly on behalf of farmers.

DairyNZ chairman Jim van der Poel says a united voice on emissions pricing is the best way to ensure positive policy outcomes for farmers.

“All three organisations have reaffirmed nine core principles that we will all be raising in our submissions and through the He Waka Eke Noa partnership.”

Our organisations are all united in our determination to get the best possible outcome we can.

The Government’s emission pricing proposal differs significantly from the He Waka Eke Noa recommendations, which were designed as a whole-farm system approach to reduce emissions, meet targets and give fair recognition and reward for on-farm planting. The Government’s subsequent changes have needlessly put the cross-sector consensus at risk.

“Our organisations are all united in our determination to get the best possible outcome we can and will continue to work closely together as we advocate for farmers,” says B+L NZ chairman Andrew Morrison.

Federated Farmers chairman Andrew Hoggard said individual organisations would continue to raise sector specific issues.

The nine core principles that will be raised directly with the Government are: ● The current methane targets are wrong and need to be reviewed. Targets should be sciencebased, not political, and look to prevent additional warming;

● The methane price should be set at the minimum level needed and be fixed for a five-year period to give farmers certainty;

● Any levy revenue must be ringfenced and only be used for the administration of the system, investment in R&D, or go back to farmers as incentives. Administration costs must be minimised;

● The future price should be set by the minister on the advice of an independent oversight board appointed by all He Waka Eke Noa partners;

● Farmers who don’t have access to mitigations or sequestration should be able to apply for temporary levy relief if the viability of their business is threatened;

● We will not accept emissions leakage. The way to prevent that happening is by getting the targets, price, sequestration, incentives, and other settings right.

Submissions on the Government’s pricing proposal close tomorrow. ■