National promises to push out Government’s deadline for on-farm emissions pricing

National has released its agricultural emission plan, promising to extend the Government’s deadline for pricing on-farm emissions to 2030 deadline.

The party’s agricultural spokesperson, Todd McClay, said National wanted to recognise on-farm sequestration and create an independent board to implement a pricing system for agricultural emissions, by 2030 at the latest, keeping the sector out of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

National will speak to its newly-released policy at 2pm, this will be livestreamed above.

Under the Labour Government’s plan, an agricultural emissions pricing system was to be agreed upon by 2025, or such emissions would be priced under the ETS.

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“National will give farmers the tools they need to reduce emissions before charging them for their on-farm emissions – by 2030 at the latest,” McClay said, in a statement.

“National will recognise on-farm sequestration, allowing landowners to earn carbon credits through other forms of carbon capture besides tree planting, for example restoring wetlands.

“To prevent the loss of valuable agricultural land, National will introduce limits for new farm-to-forest conversions – including a moratorium on whole farm conversions to exotic forestry on high quality land from 2024.”