Farmers Are Calling For A Review Of Methane Targets, After A New Report Shows Current Goals Unfairly Burden The Livestock Industry

Farmers are calling for a review of methane targets, after a new report shows current goals unfairly burden the livestock industry and do not reflect methane’s warming impact. The report from the universities of Oxford and Cranfield, calculates that current methane targets could offset all of New Zealand’s expected additional warming from carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide up to 2050. Commissioned by Beef + Lamb NZ, DairyNZ and Federated Farmers, the report is aimed at the Climate Change Commission to include emission targets as part of its overall review in 2024. DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel says this report says if you look at methane and its contribution to warming and if you look at our existing targets, farmers are being asked to do more than equitable. Depending on whether other countries meet their existing methane reduction commitments, it says, NZ may only require a 15% reduction in methane, which would not contribute to additional warming above 2020 levels. But if other countries significantly increase their methane reduction goals, NZ may have reduce its emissions by up to 27%.