Review of methane science and target
An independent panel has reviewed Aotearoa New Zealand’s biogenic methane science and 2050 target.
The Ministerial advisory panel was appointed in June 2024 and was tasked with reviewing the latest science about biogenic methane to provide an up-to-date evidence base about methane’s warming impact.
The panel members bring extensive New Zealand and international scientific experience across atmospheric physics and chemistry, understanding and quantifying greenhouse gas emissions, and climate modelling. The members are:
- Professor Nicola Shadbolt - chair [Massey]
- Professor Bill Collins [University of Reading]
- Professor David Frame [University of Canterbury]
- Dr Sara Milaloff-Fletcher [NIWA]
- Associate Professor Laura Revell [University of Canterbury]
The report was released in December 2024. It shows that a range of factors affect the level of methane emissions reductions needed in New Zealand to cause no additional warming. These include the progress of other countries at cutting emissions. The panel wasn’t asked to recommend what a target should be.
The Government will consider the report alongside He Pou a Rangi | Climate Change Commission’s review of the country’s 2050 targets, which will be made public in December 2024.