Methane emissions deal kick starts climate change legislation
The government is close to announcing a deal on its contentious climate change legislation, striking a deal over agricultural emissions. Stuff understands Climate Change Minister James Shaw and NZ First have negotiated a "split gas" target, which would see methane treated differently from other long-lived gases, like carbon. Farmers are worried about the legislation because agriculture accounts for about half our emissions, mostly methane from belching live stock. It comes as Shaw took delivery on Tuesday of two reports - on agriculture and on transitioning to 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2035 - from the Interim Climate Change Committee (ICCC). READ MORE: * NZ First slows climate change law * How eliminating sheep burps and cow pee could slow global warming * What is the NZ Government's Zero Carbon Bill and will it do anything? But instead of immediately releasing them publicly, as expected, the reports will be held back until the Government decides how to respond. Shaw said: "We have delayed release of reports to give Government time to consider the reports so that when they are released for public consultation people will have a clear idea of the Government's thinking around the recommendations. "That's likely to mean the release of the reports, together with the Government's position, will happen in the next few weeks." He said consultation will be "open to all stakeholders". On progress on the legislation, he would only say: "Discussions are still active and I can't comment while that is the case... we do expect to introduce the bill soon." NZ First was worried its farming base would be unfairly disadvantaged by ambitious targets. It's understood the party's chief of staff Jon Johansson played an instrumental role in the compromise. Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, New Zealand agreed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. Scientists have long argued delays and inaction will increase costs and reduce chances of limiting temperature increase. New Zealand's methane emissions are six times the global average. But scientists are at odds about how stringent targets should be to reduce or stablise methane emissions. Some argue tackling carbon dioxide, a pollutant from industry and transport, is more pressing because it remains in the atmosphere for much longer. Earlier this year, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton was criticised for giving farmers a 'free pass' when he argued the biological greenhouse gases of methane and nitrous oxide did not need to go to zero, and should be allowed to offset emissions using forests as sinks. But the majority of public submissions to the proposed Zero Carbon Bill argued in favour of reducing all gases to zero. The ICCC was set up to work on how New Zealand transitions to a net zero emissions economy by 2050. It will hand over its work to the independent Climate Change Commission, to be established by the Zero Carbon Act. In March, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern defended delays to the progression of the legislation, which she called "ground-breaking". "It's technical and difficult legislation we are working hard to finalise. Once we lock down the remaining details we will be in a position to announce the timeframe for the Bill's introduction. I'm very keen to see it finalised and completed by the end of this year. "We want to try and reach a consensus so that the legislation is lasting. It needs to endure for 30 years, not just the next three." Sector group Beef + Lamb NZ welcomed a more nuanced approach to pollutants. Chief insight officer Jeremy Baker said: "We are committed to playing our role in addressing climate change. "It is important we get the framework right and we end up with an approach that really works at the farm-level and recognises the different impacts of gases such as methane and carbon dioxide. "We look forward to working with the government as they consider the ICCC recommendations."