The Primary Land Use Group (PLUG) has been in existence
for about 5 years. The Group came about as the Rural Sector
became concerned about the Waikato Regional Council Plan
Change (PC1) That bureaucratic planning process burned
through more than $35 million dollars. This should have been
spent on working alongside landowners to improved water
quality outcomes. We are concerned that the current HWEN
proposals will also lead to financing bureaucracy rather
than producing answers to the emissions issues.
PLUG
is concerned that Taxing Agriculture either through the ETS
or through the current HWEN proposals will not reduce
emissions. PLUG along with a growing number of other Groups
such as the large Groundswell team want to ensure that we
develop and promote a more practical approach to lowering
Agriculture emissions. A number of improved options have
been suggested that must be considered
High on the
priority PLUG urges the full support of the requirement of
the Paris Climate Accord that states an unequivocal need to
PROTECT FOOD PRODUCTION. We note and are proud of New
Zealand Agriculture being amongst the Worlds most efficient
(emissions per kg of product) We don’t’ think raising
the cost of production will do NZ consumers any favours.
Likewise limiting NZ efficient production encourages less
efficient producers across the World to fill the gap. Note
NZ Agriculture punches well above its size feeding up to
40milion people around the planet.
PLUG is very
concerned that the proposals presented to date are too
bureaucratic, expensive, slow and results aren’t
certain.
Neither a ‘Price Tax’ on Ag nor the
‘ETS Tax’ is warranted as adaptation methodology.
Looking forward ‘Price Taxing’ AG and the ‘ETS Tax’
will adversely impact on the New Zealand economy while other
major Countries continue aggressively adding to CO2
emissions.
Our view is that providing good science
adaptation technology for the Ag sector to improve our
conversion efficiency (energy) in producing food does make
sense. Doing so would lower emission leakage, lead to more
efficient food production and lead to lower total
emissions.
PLUG believes that linking individual
on-farm emission data (such as Fonterra has provided to its
suppliers) to practical management options to reduce
emission leakage is useful. The Ag sector has proved that it
is capable of quickly taking up technology once the tools
become available.
PLUG disagrees with the push to put
a ‘Price on Emissions’. This is of course slang for
another Tax.
Eventually, new technology developed with
solid science backup will provide worthwhile options to
Agriculture to lower their emissions profile. There is a
better way than ‘pricing’ and taxing’. That is
counter-productive, counter-intuitive and administratively
costly.
PLUG recognises that NZ AG should invest in
seeking solutions to our emissions profile. PLUG suggests
utilising the current levy system to establish a dedicated
fund solely focused on solutions. Using the current levy
process (farmer vote) provides farmers with true ownership
which in our view makes for rapid uptake of any worthwhile
technology.
We urge our Levy organisations along with
the HWEN Committee to recognise and promote
‘self-management’ of the issue by taking a strong stand
and not accepting the Climate Minister’s threat to
‘Price’ or be thrown into the ETS. Blackmail by any
other name is Blackmail.
Our Government Ministers
should be above threatening such
action.
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