Environmental activists have accused the New Zealand government of “full-scale climate denial” after it cut targets for cutting emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
New Zealand The right-wing coalition government on Sunday outlined plans to cut methane emissions by 14% to 24% by 2050, compared with 2017 levels.
The previous target ranged from 24 to 47%.
Farmers who were unhappy with the previous target praised the move, but scientists and opposition parties criticized it as “weak” and “unambitious.”
Greenpeace New Zealand said the policy change was “tantamount to full-blown climate denial”.
Amanda Larsson, an environmental climate campaigner, said Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was “choosing… corporate profits over our children's future.”
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts said the government “remains committed to our domestic and international climate change commitments, including net zero by 2050.”
“Agriculture will continue to make an important and equitable contribution to achieving this reduction,” he said.
The government also confirmed it would legislate for a review of biogenic methane targets in 2040 and would not introduce a tax on agricultural methane emissions due to the threat of farm closures.
The company is also investing NZ$400 million (US$230 million) in methane removal technology.
Watts said overall agricultural emissions could fall by 14% over the next decade if 30% of farmers adopt the technologies, which are expected to be available before 2030.
But Massey University climate change mitigation expert Ralph Sims said there was “no guarantee” scientific research would provide short-term solutions to the problem of biogenic methane, including that belched by the country's five million cows and 23 million sheep.
Agriculture accounts for almost half of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions, according to government data.
Advocacy group Climate Lawyers said lowering the target risked tarnishing New Zealand's international standing.
Jocelyn Turnbull, chief scientist at New Zealand's government Institute of Geosciences, also said it could harm New Zealand's “clean and green” image.
But the New Zealand Farmers' Federation, an agricultural lobby group, said the changes were “long overdue”. President Wayne Langford said previous methane reduction targets were “absolute madness.”
“Farm families have been under enormous pressure for a long time, but it appears that this is finally coming to an end,” he said.
