AFP extension
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Mike Wijers
correspondent from Australia
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Mike Wijers
correspondent from Australia
In New Zealand, the government wants farmers to pay a tax for the emissions of their livestock. The levy is expected to contribute to the goal of being climate neutral by 2050 and reducing methane emissions by 10% by 2030.
The sector is responsible for more than half of New Zealand’s emissions. This mainly concerns the harmful greenhouse gas methane, which is released from livestock farts, burps and droppings.
The agricultural sector is one of the last sectors in New Zealand to pay for emissions. The country has had an emissions trading scheme since 2008, but farmers have not had to participate until now.
Furious farmers
Farmers are outraged by the government’s proposal. “This plan is a punch in the stomach for farmers,” says Stu Muir (52). He runs a dairy farm in the Aka Aka hills in the Waikato region of New Zealand’s North Island.
“We’ve been trying for years to do the right thing for our country and the climate, but in a way that also benefits our community. Now that’s being pushed aside,” she says.
Muir is a fifth generation farmer in this area. His ancestors came to New Zealand from Scotland in the early 19th century. Muir grew up on the farm, as do his four children now. “My children help in the fields from an early age. They know exactly where their food comes from. It’s a natural life,” he says.
The largest exporter of dairy products
It’s not the only one, there are more than 50,000 farms across New Zealand. Out of a population of 5 million people, there are more than 10 million cows and 26 million sheep. The sector accounts for over half of New Zealand’s exports the largest exporter of dairy products in the world.
But Muir fears he is the last professional farmer in the family. “This plan will bankrupt farmers,” he says. Many farmers are hesitant about this. Lobby group Groundswell NZ says around 20% of farms will fail.
There has been a lot of opposition since the government announced the plans. A petition with more than 100,000 signatures was presented to the minister by tractor. Protesters took to the streets with tractors.
The debate became increasingly polarized as New Zealand farmers, interest groups and the government worked together. In partnership A simple ride the parties have been discussing how to reduce emissions from the farming community since 2019. Eventually a proposal was made and the farmers agreed to a tax on their emissions.
tax
The big difference with the current plan that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s government has now presented is that farmers wanted to influence the level of that tax. Instead, the government wants to appoint an independent party to determine the amount of the tax each year.
Emissions can be offset by planting trees. But there are many hurdles to that, says climate scientist David Hall of Auckland University of Technology. “There’s a lot of focus on compensation options in this plan and not enough on biodiversity.”
Pine trees do not naturally belong to New Zealand. But because they grow quickly, they are planted a lot to offset emissions. This could come at the expense of biodiversity, says Hall. “It becomes more profitable to use agricultural land to plant pine forests. But this creates a monoculture that gives less space to our native animals and plants.”
While biodiversity is important for tackling climate change. “We need a combined approach so that measures to combat climate change don’t negatively impact biodiversity,” says Hall.
‘No acknowledgment’
This is also what worries the Muir breeder. He has invested heavily to allow parts of his land to go wild to increase biodiversity. “I invested time and money in cleaning up the local river, and since then all the native fish and birds have returned. But in this plan, I have no credit for that.”
Hall also sees this as a flaw in this government proposal. While he stresses that the tax is needed to reduce emissions, he advocates greater understanding for farmers. “This is very drastic for people, we have to take this into account and everyone contributes to reducing emissions,” he says.
There is generally strong support in parliament for the government’s proposal. The final plan will be presented early next year. The tax will come into effect from 2025.
