PCE report reinforces methane not the same global warming impact as carbon dioxide
DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle has welcomed the report released today by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, recommending methane should be treated differently to carbon dioxide and doesn’t need to be reduced to net zero. “This work adds to the growing evidence base developed over the past few years about how methane, a biological emission from animals, differs from carbon dioxide in terms of its impact on global warming,” says Dr Mackle. “The paper states that methane needs to be reduced and stabilised in order to achieve no additional warming, rather than go to net zero. This is consistent with the international science. “Mr Upton also recommends that nitrous oxide does not need to be reduced to net zero. We would welcome further research into this approach. “This paper demonstrates again how the science around the impact of biological gases on global warming is continuing to develop. This is why the implications of any policy decisions for dealing with these gases needs to be carefully considered. But it is clear that total emissions must reduce.” The science to date has supported methane being treated differently to both nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. A split gas approach, under consideration for the Zero Carbon Bill, could recognise the differences between the gases by providing a separate target for methane. “We agree forestry and planting will be vital to helping New Zealand meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets,” says Dr Mackle. “Many of our farmers are already planting for other environmental reasons, and often with trees and species currently excluded from the greenhouse gas inventory. It would be great to see them recognised for the carbon sinks existing on their dairy farms. “While Mr Upton proposes forest offsets be used only for biological emissions, we think there is a role for forestry […]