The New Zealand
Climate Science Coalition

10 August 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Agriculture does not belong in Emission Trading Scheme

The New Zealand Climate Science Coalition urges Prime Minister John Key to reconsider the Government’s position on the proposed emissions trading scheme (ETS), especially as it relates to agriculture.

“New Zealand is the only signatory to the Kyoto Agreement that intends to include agriculture in its emissions trading scheme. Other nations see pastoral farming as a sink for carbon dioxide and are therefore exempting agriculture from their emission trading schemes,” says Dr Doug Edmeades, the coalition’s spokesman on agriculture.

“Figures released recently by Meat and Wool New Zealand and by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries indicate that when fully implemented the ETS will cost the average New Zealand farmer about $40,000 per year. In addition, it will hand an enormous competitive advantage to New Zealand’s agricultural competitors, who are excluded from such schemes. The proposed ETS will cripple New Zealand farming, and the nation, given that New Zealand’s economic welfare depends on agriculture.

“Even if it is accepted that the science on global warming was settled, which it is not, the impact of the New Zealand’s ETS on greenhouse gas emissions, and hence global temperature would be infinitesimally small. The total human contribution to the greenhouse effect has been calculated to be 0.276%, of which Minister Nick Smith reminded Parliament last week that New Zealand share is 0.2%, which would mean New Zealanders collectively contribute an infinitesimal 0.0005%. To bring the nation to its economic knees for such a tiny gain is ridiculous,” Dr Edmeades concluded.

ENDS

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