{"id":1338295,"date":"2024-06-28T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-28T07:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.agriland.ie\/?p=1338295"},"modified":"2024-06-28T08:10:03","modified_gmt":"2024-06-28T07:10:03","slug":"new-zealand-reveals-independent-panel-to-review-methane-science","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lightsail.agriland.ie\/farming-news\/new-zealand-reveals-independent-panel-to-review-methane-science\/","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand reveals independent panel to review methane science"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The government in New Zealand has unveiled members of an independent panel to review the science around methane emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government has stated that it “is delivering on its promise to commence an independent review of the methane science and targets for consistency with no additional warming from agriculture emissions”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The announcement was made by climate change minister Simon Watts and agriculture minister Todd McClay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minister Watts said: \u201cAn independent panel announced today, will report back to the government by the end of the year, providing evidence-based advice on what our biogenic methane target should be to ensure no additional warming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cCabinet has approved five appointees to the independent ministerial advisory panel, including its chair, Nicola Shadbolt, who in addition to being a former climate change commissioner, is a respected farmer, academic, and director with extensive governance experience.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe panel\u2019s members are highly-regarded, climate and atmospheric scientists with extensive domestic and international experience on climate change and biogenic methane.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Review of methane science<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Minister McClay said the panel\u2019s report will complement the Climate Change Commission\u2019s review of the 2050 targets this year and will inform the government\u2019s response to the commission\u2019s advice in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Minister Todd McClay. Image source: National<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Minister McClay added: \u201cThe government is committed to meeting our climate change obligations without shutting down Kiwi farms. We need to make sure our targets are fair and sustainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cNew Zealand farmers are some of the world\u2019s most carbon-efficient food producers. It doesn\u2019t make sense to send jobs and production overseas, while less carbon-efficient countries produce the food the world needs.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo ensure efforts to cut emissions do not drive a drop in our agricultural production, the government is investing more than $400 million over the next four years.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McClay said the investment will accelerate the availability of tools and technology to reduce on-farm emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It includes an extra $50.5 million over the next five years to scale up investment in the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe upcoming consultation on the second emissions reduction plan will also cover plans to support the sector to reduce agricultural emissions in more detail,” Minister McClay continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA strong New Zealand\u2019s economy relies on a strong agricultural sector working sustainably towards our climate change goals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Zealand <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this month the New Zealand government set to deliver on its election commitment to take agriculture out of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NZ ETS is a tool for meeting domestic and international climate change targets, and it requires businesses to measure and report on their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the recent announcement<\/a> means that agriculture will now be excluded from the scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The amendment will remove agriculture, animal processors and fertiliser companies from the ETS before January 1, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n