Report shows reducing actual farming emissions vital

Evidence shows that relying on offsets to reduce agriculture’s impact on the climate will not work, the Green Party says.

“We cannot plant our way out of the climate crisis. The only option is to support farmers to change on-farm practices, including reducing animal numbers,” says the Green Party’s environment and forestry spokesperson, Eugenie Sage said.

The new report from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) shows it would take 6,000 square metres of pine forest to offset the methane emissions from a single dairy cow and 4,000 square metres of pine forest to offset the emissions from a single beef animal. That’s the equivalent of a rugby field of pine trees for just two animals.

“The Green Party has been saying for years that we need to change the way we farm to reduce emissions – and this report shows exactly why. 

“Forestry offsets will have a role to play in our transition to a low emissions future, but no realistic amount of trees can deliver the cuts we need from agriculture for both methane and nitrous oxide emissions. 

“The Green Party urges the Government to rapidly phase down synthetic nitrogen fertiliser and imported supplementary feeds like Palm Kernel Expeller (PKE), which provides cheap feed for intensive high-emission farming in Aotearoa, especially in the dairy sector,” says Eugenie Sage.

The Green Party’s agriculture and rural communities spokesperson, Teanau Tuiono added: 

“The PCE’s analysis brings into sharp focus the decisions currently facing farmers and the Government. Relying on forest offsets won’t work for farmers, rural communities, our climate, or our economy.

“The Greens welcome recent Government reports on the potential for regenerative agriculture to contribute to our response to the climate crisis and the funding in Budget 2022 to provide guidance for farmers.

“However, endless reports are of little comfort to the future generations who must live with the consequences of our decisions. 

“It is time to step up, learn from the reports and science and boost the support available to farmers to take up regenerative techniques on their farms and reduce herd sizes. This can be done while increasing profitability. 

“Regenerative farming practices enhance water and soil quality, enable food production at levels that don’t push agriculture beyond the limits of our ecosystems and safeguard the climate,” says Teanau Tuiono.

Latest Environment Announcements

Story

NZ needs strong protection against water privatisation

New Zealanders deserve strong protection against the future privatisation of water assets, the Green Party says.
Read More

Story

Nature missing in RMA reform

The Government has missed a crucial opportunity to redesign the resource management system with climate and nature at its heart. 
Read More

Story

Budget 2022: Greens call for urgency with nature-first climate investments

Budget 2022 shows progress on conservation commitments in the Green Party’s cooperation agreement Green Party achievements in the last Government ...
Read More

Story

Nature needs us to act right now

The Green Party welcomes the release of the implementation plan for Te Mana o te Taiao Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy and calls on the ...
Read More

Story

Urgent action needed to bring natural environment back from the brink

The release today of Environment Aotearoa 2022 is a sobering reminder of what is at stake if the Government does not step up and take urgent action...
Read More

Story

Greens welcome Three Waters recommendations

The Green Party welcomes the recommendations of the Three Waters independent working group and urges the Government to seriously consider the repor...
Read More

Latest Agriculture Announcements

Story

Government handing Fonterra a free pass

Minister O’Connor should immediately pause the Government’s proposed Fonterra Bill and review its potential impact on the climate, the Green Party ...
Read More

Story

Pricing must cut agriculture emissions

Cutting climate pollution must be the number one priority for Cabinet when considering how it intends to price agricultural emissions, the Green Pa...
Read More

Story

Agricultural emissions proposal falls short

The He Waka Eke Noa agricultural emissions pricing proposal leaves more questions than answers, the Green Party says.
Read More

Story

Phase out PKE as part of climate plan

The Green Party is calling on the Minister of Agriculture, Damien O’Connor to phase out the use of the Palm Kernel Expeller (PKE) on farms to help ...
Read More

Story

Govt must start phase out of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser

Responding to new research showing the link between cancer and nitrates in drinking water, the Green Party is calling on the Government to immediat...
Read More

Story

No time for half measures - ban import of palm oil by-products

The Government should take urgent action to ban imports of Palm Kernel Expeller and Palm Kernel Meal, the Green Party says.
Read More