New Zealand Aims to Cut Livestock Methane by Up to 24% by 2050
(Bloomberg) -- New Zealand has lowered its 2050 methane target for livestock and other farm sources to a 14-24% cut from 2017 levels, down from the previous goal of 24-47%, according to a joint statement from three ministers.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts and Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard said the goal, approved by cabinet, aims to balance lower farm emissions with protecting food production and exports. The target follows recommendations from the Methane Science Review released last year.
The announcement comes as the government projects New Zealand will meet both its five-year and long-term climate goals. Agriculture — mainly methane from cows and sheep — accounts for about half the country’s greenhouse gas output, making it central to efforts to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Projections released Sunday show total emissions will reach 300.5 million tons of carbon-dioxide equivalent in 2025-30, below the national budget of 305 million tons, according to the Ministry for the Environment.
The government had “accepted a range of advice and worked closely with industry to agree a practical target that protects food production whilst substantially reducing New Zealand’s farm emissions,” McClay said.
The government said it would review the methane target in 2040 to ensure it remains aligned with scientific evidence and the policies of key trading partners. It ruled out a tax on methane from farming, saying reductions will instead come through partnerships with industry and processor incentives.
More than NZ$400 million ($229 million) has been committed to developing and deploying methane-cutting technologies, with the first expected on farms in 2026 and up to 11 available by 2030. Watts said new technology could allow the sector to lower emissions without reducing production.
The government would also consider treating methane separately from other greenhouse gases in future international climate commitments, Hoggard said. An on-farm emissions calculator has been released on the Ag Matters website to help farmers track and manage emissions.
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