Todd McClay: Agriculture Minister on the panel recommending New Zealand reduce its 2050 climate target

The Government's paying little attention to global action around climate change.  

A coalition-appointed panel's suggesting New Zealand weaken its current 2050 climate target of up to 47% less emissions than 2017. 

It's offered a new target of just 15%. 

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay told Mike Hosking the rest of the world needs to step up, but we only need to focus on New Zealand.  

He says we don't need to lead the world or do more than others, and the Government will likely just focus on our obligations. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
More advice for farmers around methane, and expert Climate Panel
has concluded we could still meet our climate targets without
dress and cuts to methane emissions. We thought maybe forty
seven percent was required. They now argue could be as
low as twenty four percent. The egg Minister Tod McLay
with us Todd Morning, Mike, Good morning, biogenic methane ten
percent reduction below seventeen by twenty thirty four to twenty five.

(00:22):
I got a headache reading this. Does anyone understand what's
going on?

Speaker 2 (00:25):
It is very very technically. You're right, and that's the
reason that we campaigned on having an independent scientific review
of the role of methane from animals, from cows against
additional warming. You're right. Currently the legislation says by twenty
fifty there has to be a twenty four to forty
seven percent decrease of methane. That's not a target for

(00:46):
farmers to work towards. It's just a really broad band
that last government said, we don't know, we'll work it
out later. So this is the first bit of independent
advice in government's commissions that will help inform us of
exactly what that target should be and we'll look to
work through the set next year.

Speaker 1 (01:00):
Do you see it as solid work or it's malleable,
it's variable. We still don't know.

Speaker 2 (01:05):
Well, it's based on science. There's been other reports have
been coming out the sector have had one done there
that the a few others who are reputable that are
in a similar place. And again this is very very technical.
It's the reason I'm so keen to move the debate
around from what we've seen over the last few years
to the science. So if we can land the science

(01:25):
it's credible, then actually we're informed that the action we're
taking is going to have an effect. I think so
far there's been a lot of talk that deletes us
in a different direction. Yeah, you know, it's all about
the politics at the moment that should be based upon
science and whatever we do will be very hard for
our farmers. But we're only going to ask them to
do what they need to. We're not going to ask
them to do more than that.

Speaker 1 (01:46):
Here's your problem, and this is in the report. It
is based on the world rapidly increasing its policies. I
don't think that's going to happen. So if they don't
do that bit, what do we do.

Speaker 2 (01:56):
Yeah, so we as others around the world, have committed to,
you know, limiting warning to one point five percent, and
you are right, the rest of the world has to
step up. But we only need to focus on what
New Zealand does. We don't need to lead the world.
We don't need to do more than others. We don't
need to be right out in the front. You need
to focus on what our obligations are. And so that's
what the government is likely to do. But the Climate

(02:18):
Change Commission is also going to come out with their
report very soon. We'll take these two bits of advice.
We'll look at it take some time to be sensible
next year and then Kevin, it will make a decision.

Speaker 1 (02:28):
Okay, that commission. You talk on the outgoing chairperson ROADCA.
He says, quote, it's going to fail. It needs pretty
radical reform, as you right.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
Well, I've got a lot of respect from his work,
very very hard, but no I don't agree there. You know,
he he'll bring his report forward. I can't wait to
see what it is. It will be his last opportunity
to have a view on this before there is a
new chair that will come in. But what we're going
to do is work constructively. You know there are two
views out there. We should be right at the front
of the queue leading the world. That's harmful to New

(02:58):
Zealand consumers and it's harm full to the economy. We
are very smaller methods compared to almost everybody else, but
that's not a reason for us not to do our
fair share. We should be leading the world in innovation,
not in closing down businesses.

Speaker 1 (03:12):
Good stuff to IP appreciate. It has almost taught Macloude,
the Agriculture Minister.

Speaker 2 (03:16):
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