A Victory for Science and Fairness: Reevaluating Methane Emission Targets

• Federated Farmers praise the government’s decision to reassess methane emission targets, highlighting it as a significant achievement for agricultural fairness and New Zealand’s economy.
• The organization emphasizes the importance of establishing climate targets that are scientifically sound, attainable, and equitable, advocating for a science-led approach to emissions.
• The review is seen as essential to ensure that agricultural methane targets align with realistic goals for preventing additional global warming, contrasting with more stringent demands placed on other sectors.

Federated Farmers have expressed strong support for the recent decision to review methane emission targets, viewing it as an essential step towards fairness for the farming community and beneficial for the New Zealand economy as a whole.

“Federated Farmers see this review as an immensely positive development, one that farmers and rural areas will greatly appreciate,” remarked Federated Farmers president, Wayne Langford.

Langford criticised the initial setting of methane targets as overly political and not grounded in solid science, arguing that they exceed what is necessary for preventing additional warming. This, he notes, imposes significant burdens on farmers, rural communities, and the economy.

“From the outset, we’ve contested these targets, advocating for a review to ensure they’re founded on credible science,” Langford added.

The call for this review aligns with Federated Farmers’ broader policy goals aimed at boosting farmer confidence, which was a key part of their advocacy during the last general election.

Langford stressed the need for climate targets that are fair, realistic, and based on the distinct warming impacts of different gases, criticizing the disproportionate expectations placed on the agricultural sector.

“It’s crucial this review focuses on aligning methane targets with the goal of halting the sector’s contribution to global warming,” concluded Langford.