ACT welcomes new methane targets – we were right then, and we’re right now

“Today the fantasyland assault on farmers has been slashed,” says ACT Leader David Seymour, celebrating the Government’s announcement that methane targets have been halved to reflect science, not ideology.

“ACT alone opposed the Zero Carbon Act. We voted against the entire Parliament, including our now partners in Government, because reason and logic aren’t for sale. We were right then, and we’re right now.

“When every other party voted for that kamikaze law, ACT stood alone as the voice of reason. We said putting Kiwi farmers out of business and sending their customers overseas was shooting ourselves in both feet – one bullet to kill the planet, the other to kill the Kiwi economy.”

Seymour says ACT MP and dairy farmer Andrew Hoggard deserves enormous credit.

“Andrew has spent years fighting for this outcome – long before he entered Parliament. His leadership and consistency have delivered a fair, science-based target that protects food production and rural jobs.

“The 2040 review is another critical ACT win. If our trading partners aren’t on track, New Zealand shouldn’t be forced to go it alone. ACT fought for that safeguard to ensure our farmers aren’t punished for doing their jobs better than anyone else in the world.

“Equally, Mark Cameron has been a consistent champion for rural New Zealand, asking the right questions and pushing the debate back toward common sense.”

“Labour’s unscientific climate targets could only be met by destocking and shutting down farms. Today’s decision shows that balance and common sense have returned, with targets that can be met through business-as-usual efficiency improvements," says ACT Agriculture spokesperson Mark Cameron.

“It never made sense to cripple the world’s most efficient farmers and hand their customers to higher-emitting competitors overseas. This change proves ACT’s approach was right all along.

“The timing couldn’t be better. The global house of climate cards is collapsing – first the Net Zero Banking Alliance, then Nestlé pulling out of the Dairy Methane Action Alliance. The world is shifting toward the position ACT has held from day one.

“The Paris Agreement is next. As ACT has long said, either Paris needs to change, or New Zealand needs to leave.

“Farmers can be proud today, and they can see that when ACT is in Government, rural New Zealand has a voice.”

“Our climate laws were broken, and ACT has fixed them. Farmers finally have policy stability and certainty to invest. They can keep feeding the world as its preferred, and most efficient provider,” says Mr Seymour.