CCC advice on NZ’s agricultural pricing system

Te Whanganui-a-Tara - The government today released the Climate Change Commission’s advice to them on the cost to farmers of the agricultural pricing system for emissions.

Commission chair Dr Rod Carr says with significant effort implementing a streamlined version of the He Waka Eke Noa proposals would be possible by 2025.

“We have identified key factors that are critical to this being possible including designing and building the necessary IT systems, establishing administrative, compliance and enforcement functions, and putting regulations in place,“ Dr Carr says.

“Other efforts will be needed to enable farmers to respond effectively to price signals, overcome barriers, avoid negative knock-on impacts, and minimise inequities including addressing impacts for iwi/Māori and Māori collectively-owned land.

“Effective action on climate change is in our best interests. The choices we make now will preserve our status as an efficient producer of agricultural products in the future.

“By pricing emissions from agriculture, we are charting a new path. Being a first mover globally, with a well-designed agricultural pricing policy, will provide a strong, credible example to other countries and help maintain our reputation for innovation and progress.

“To transition to a low emissions future, we need change across all sectors. For agriculture, the government will be implementing an emissions pricing system to help the sector to transition to low emissions farming.”

Now it is over to the government to review the evidence and step up to make sure a pricing system that delivers what is needed will be ready by January 1, 2025. A pricing system for agriculture must be in place by 2025.

Dr Carr says New Zealand cannot afford to wait any delay will only set Aotearoa back further from getting to where we need to be in 2030 and 2050. All eyes will be on the decisions the government makes in December. The time for action is now.

Developing an effective system to price agricultural emissions is a key part of the government’s emissions reduction plan.