US Edition'Huge Relief’: Farmers Back Govt's New Methane Goals, No Emissions Tax
New Zealand sets methane reduction target of 14-24% below 2017 levels by 2050, investing over $400 million in technology without imposing agricultural emissions taxes.
- The announcement on Sunday set a 14–24% 2050 biogenic methane target below 2017 levels, reflecting the Independent Methane Science Review, and ruled out pricing agricultural methane emissions.
- Investment and industry cooperation underpins the government's practical approach, with a $400 million investment to speed development and roll-out of methane-cutting tools.
- Scientific and legislative context shows the revised target is lower than earlier law, with the Climate Change Commission recommending 35–47% cuts while dairy methane dropped 4.1% since 2017.
- Industry groups and Federated Farmers welcomed the change as long overdue, while The Green Party and WWF-New Zealand condemned it as a roll-back of ambition.
- Implementation will rely on tool roll-out and a statutory review in 2040, with the first deployment in 2026 and up to 11 tools available by 2030, while critics warn amendments risk weakening the Climate Change Response Amendment Act.
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12 Articles
The new plan aims to reduce methane emissions by between 14 and 24% by 2050, compared to 2017 levels.
New Zealand pledges to reduce biogenic methane emissions by 2050
SYDNEY (Reuters) -New Zealand on Sunday pledged to cut biogenic methane emissions by up to 24% from 2017 levels by 2050, which its conservative government said would protect the agriculture sector and meet the country’s climate commitments. The announcement comes after the government in April ended a plan to put a price on agricultural emissions including methane produced by belching sheep and cattle, relenting to farmer pressure that the plan w…
New Zealand Aims to Cut Livestock Methane by Up to 24% by 2050
New Zealand has lowered its 2050 methane target for livestock and other farm sources to a 14-24% cut from 2017 levels, down from the previous goal of 24-47%, according to a joint statement from three ministers.
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