Climate change is a global problem, and greenhouse gases emitted by one country affect all others.
The big item hitting the news in the last two weeks has been farming agreeing to enter the ETS and pay five per cent of its estimated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This is a major achievement, but what struck me was the negative, almost hysterical reaction, painting farmers as climate villains not carrying their fair share of the burden.
Some statements were just plain wrong. Climate change is a global problem, and GHG emitted by one country affect all others. Therefore the actions each country takes must be done with the global perspective in mind. Anything less and we risk exacerbating the problem.
Let me give an example. New Zealand dairy farmers emit 0.89kg C02 per kilo of milk; the global average is 2.4kg per kilo. If dairy cows in New Zealand are halved, we may meet our GHG targets, but this would result in increased global methane emission worldwide as other less efficient countries pick up the shortfall.
GHG emitters need to reduce their emissions, but realistic targets and aspirations must be applied in a manner that is consistent across all emitters, fair, accurately calculated, and reflects their nett greenhouse gas emissions in a global context.