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Union leader Jacinda Ardern says National’s farm policy would set the country back “decades” and damage its international brand.
National announced its full agricultural policy on Thursday, which included a rollback in several regulations aimed at increasing freshwater quality and reducing agricultural emissions.
The part would “revise or repeal” the nine freshwater regulations introduced this year and eliminate the possibility of agriculture entering the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) in 2022.
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Jacinda Ardern said the policy would set New Zealand back “decades.”
He is also interested in reviewing the use of forestry for carbon offsetting, getting the Climate Change Commission to “review” the methane emission target under the Zero Carbon Act, and separating biogenic methane from future carbon budgets set under the Zero Carbon Law.
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Speaking to reporters in Christchurch on Thursday, Ardern said the policy “would set New Zealand back decades.”
“Frankly, it’s a policy change. We have previously had consensus from the National Party and from all political parties on climate change, ”Ardern said.
“It is very disappointing to see that change.”
While National voted for the Zero Carbon Bill, it did so with serious reservations, noting a number of changes it would make to it if elected, including revising the methane target and removing biogenic methane from carbon budgets.
New on Thursday was National’s commitment to remove the ability for governments to quickly include agriculture in the ETS by 2022 if another pricing mechanism was not reached.
But National has long held the position that agriculture shouldn’t be in the ETS unless cheap emissions reduction technology is available.
Ardern also argued that the policies would damage New Zealand’s export brand.
“It also damages our brand with which we trade and on which we are increasing our exports. It would cause further degradation of our waterways. “
National leader Judith Collins said Thursday morning that the government did not understand farmers.
“Farmers have enough on their plate with the weather, interest rates and international markets, they shouldn’t have to deal with a government that doesn’t understand their sector and restricts their growth,” said leader Collins.
“When we form the next government, our commitment is to ensure that our agricultural policy is focused on allowing farmers the opportunity to cultivate their way for better results, rather than being regulated into oblivion.”
The Green Party has also attacked National’s policy as “dangerous.”
“The policy presented today, which dismantles key parts of the Zero Carbon Law and the new freshwater regulations, shows that they are anti-science and anti-climate. It’s gruesome politics and sadly not surprising, ”said co-leader James Shaw.
“National once again shows its contempt for future generations in its proposal to dismantle the enormous advances in the environment and climate action.”
Both Labor and the Greens have proposed funds to help farmers with the costs of the new regulations.
Federated Farmers was more supportive of National’s policy, particularly the revision of the repeal of water quality regulations, which it said were unworkable.
Fish and Game harshly criticized National’s policy, saying the party wanted to “reverse the progress made in recent years.”
He also criticized the Labor movement towards the possibility of allowing farm plans instead of consents.
