Beef + Lamb Response to Productivity Commission draft report

Response to Productivity Commission draft report Low Emissions Economy from Beef + Lamb NZ

Sam McIvor, Chief Executive of Beef + Lamb NZ, said: “There is much to digest in the draft Productivity Commission report.

“Our initial reading is that there is much in the report that makes sense. Beef + Lamb NZ agrees with the goals, but we believe there may be other ways to achieve the objectives.

“We agree with the case for methane to be dealt with separately due to its relatively short life in the atmosphere, for example.

“We also acknowledge that there is an opportunity to plant more trees, even if that is only a temporary fix. But planting needs to be targeted and should not be at the expense of economically productive hill country. Tree planting has to make environmental and economic sense. It’s important to recognise that hill country farming is not all ‘marginally profitable’.

“The sheep and beef sector remains committed to continuing to reduce its carbon emissions. We have already reduced our emissions by almost 20% below 1990 levels, well below New Zealand’s Paris commitments of 11% below 1990, while at the same time making significant productivity gains.

“All sectors need to do their bit to support the government to meet its commitments, and New Zealand’s approach must be fair and recognise the contributions of individual sectors to both the problem and the solution.”

B+LNZ will be making a submission to the Productivity Commission.

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