Green Goals with Josh Cole Green Party

Over the last four years, the Greens in Government have laid the foundations for climate action in every part of Aotearoa. The Emissions Reduction Plan(ERP) is a landmark all-of-Government plan to cut climate pollution in a way that makes life better for everyone, protects nature, and improves our communities.

The Emissions Reduction Plans comes following decades of calling for climate action and years of negotiations led by Green Party Co-leader and Climate Minister, James Shaw. Paid for by polluters through the Emissions Trading Scheme, it contains over 300 initiatives to cut climate pollution. It's a historic plan and will set us on track to build a climate-friendy Aotearoa.

One big omission from the plan however, is the agriculture sector, yet again, not pulling its weight. The sector has announced the He Waka Eke Noa agricultural emissions pricing proposal, but it leaves more questions than answers.

The number one priority has to be reducing emissions to meet the targets and ensure a safe climate for future generations, but it's not clear if or how the sector's proposal will do that.

We know many farmers and growers want to do the right thing for the climate, but it's not clear that the sector's proposals will actually help them shift to low emissions and regenerative farming practices.

It looks like the sector has missed an opportunity to come up with a solid plan. It's like they were given a hallway pass and used it to wag class.

The report itself admits that further work is needed on many of its key proposals. Time is fast running out for the climate. There are only eight more lambing and calving seasons before the 2030 methane target deadline.

The Green Party's view is that agricultural emissions pricing needs to effectively lead to emissions reductions. We can't rely on unrelated freshwater policies, increased forestry, and reducing methane emissions in the waste sector.

Government Ministers now have a formal decision-making process to go through. Cabinet will need to weigh up advice from many different sources and we're all waiting for the independent Climate Change Commission's assessment later this month.

June 9, 2022