Consultation on proposals to price agricultural greenhouse gas emissions
The consultation period on Government proposals to price agricultural greenhouse gas emissions has begun. Affected or interested parties have six weeks to make submissions.
Have your say now on the proposals
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, accompanied by Climate Change Minister James Shaw and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, announced the consultation period during a visit to a Featherson farm this morning.
The Government’s proposals were drafted after it considered recommendations from He Waka Eke Noa - Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership – on how to reduce food and fibre sector emissions.
He Waka Eke Noa engaged with farmers and growers over the past three years and recommended a farm-level pricing system as the best way to encourage emissions reductions from agriculture. He Pou a Rangi – the Climate Change Commission - also contributed its own advice on agricultural emissions. The Government’s proposals build on those recommendations and advice.
Pricing agricultural emissions at a farm-level is regarded by the Government as the best opportunity for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its climate change targets.
If an alternative pricing system is not implemented by 1 January 2025, the Climate Change Response Act 2002 states that agricultural emissions will be priced under the New Zealand Emission Trading Scheme (NZ ETS).
Feedback is sought on how a proposed farm-level emissions price levy will be set, governance arrangements of the system, how farmers and growers will report and pay for their emissions and recognising sequestration.
All those interested in how agricultural emissions will be priced are invited to attend live public events where the proposals will be presented and discussed via webinar.
Agriculture makes up half of the country’s gross emissions and it’s anticipated the proposals will provide incentives for farmers and growers to take further action to reduce them.
Consultation is a critical step towards pricing emissions and the Government anticipates submissions will help design a system that is credible, workable and equitable for farmers, growers, industry businesses and the New Zealand public.
Consultation will close on 18 November 2022. Once submissions have been considered, final proposals will go to Ministers for approval in early 2023.
Information sessions on the proposals
We are running the following on the proposals:
- webinars for the public
- agriculture sector Q&A sessions
- webinar for Hapori Māori
- NZ ETS participants workshop.
Register for a session (you will also find recordings of completed sessions)
Further information