Climate change: Government to lower 2050 methane reduction target, orders 2040 review

The Government is lowering its methane reduction target, which is being welcomed by some in the agircultural sector. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The Government is lowering its 2050 methane reduction target and confirming a review will take place in 2040 to assess whether New Zealand’s reduction efforts align with high-emissions countries.

Cabinet will soon approve a new target range of 14–24% below 2017 methane emission levels by 2050. That’s a drop from the previous target range of 24-47%.

The move comes as coalition partners Act and New Zealand First grow increasingly agitated about the country’s commitment to the Paris climate accords that seek net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

While the Government remains in support of the Paris targets, Act and NZ First have questioned whether New Zealand should abandon the Paris targets if other trading partners don’t pull their weight in reducing emissions.

It’s understood NZ First considered enacting the agree-to-disagree clause in its coalition agreement with National over today’s announcement, but decided against it.

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announcedg the changes in Te Pahu, near Hamilton, at midday, alongside Climate Change Minister Simon Watts and Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.

In a statement, McClay said the change to the target range was informed by the the independent Methane Science Review, released in 2024.

“We’ve 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.”

The ministers also confirmed they would investigate a “split-gas approach” to New Zealand’s climate change obligations, in recognition of the different lifespans of methane and carbon.

They also reiterated agriculture would not be brought into the Emissions Trading Scheme, claiming it would risk “closing down farms and send jobs and production overseas”.

“Reductions in methane to meet the targets will be achieved in partnership and through industry leadership and processor incentives following the lead of companies like Fonterra and Silver Fern Farms,” McClay said.

More to come ...

Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.