New Zealand May Put Price on Emissions from Cows and Sheep
2022-06-12
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1New Zealand recently released a proposal to put a price on gases released from agricultural activity.
2The move is part of an effort to deal with the country's biggest sources of greenhouse gases: sheep and cattle.
3Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, are believed to cause warming temperatures in the Earth's atmosphere.
4The measure would make New Zealand the first country to have farmers pay for emissions from farm animals, the Ministry for Environment said.
5New Zealand, home to 5 million people, has about 10 million cattle and 26 million sheep.
6These animals release gases such as methane.
7Nearly half of New Zealand's total greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture.
8But agricultural emissions have previously not been part of the country's emissions trading plan.
9This has lead some to criticize the government's willingness to stop the greenhouse effect, known as global warming.
10Under an early version of the plan, which was put together by government and farm community representatives, farmers will have to pay for their gas emissions starting in 2025.
11Short-and long-lived farm gas will be priced separately, although a single measure to calculate their volume will be used.
12James Shaw is New Zealand's Climate Change Minister.
13He said, "There is no question that we need to cut the amount of methane we are putting into the atmosphere, and an effective emissions pricing system for agriculture will play a key part in how we achieve that."
14The proposal includes incentives for farmers who reduce emissions through feed additives, while on-farm forestry can be used to make up for emissions.
15Money from the plan will be invested in research, development and information services for farmers.
16Michael Ahie is chair of the climate action group He Waka Eke Noa.
17Ahie used the term sustainable, meaning involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources, to describe the plan.
18"Our recommendations enable sustainable food and fiber production for future generations while playing a fair part in meeting our country's climate commitments," Ahie said.
19The proposal would possibly be the biggest change to farming since the removal of agricultural subsidies in the 1980s, said Susan Kilsby, an agricultural economist at ANZ Bank.
20A final decision on the plan is expected in December.
21I'm Ashley Thompson.
1New Zealand recently released a proposal to put a price on gases released from agricultural activity. The move is part of an effort to deal with the country's biggest sources of greenhouse gases: sheep and cattle. 2Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, are believed to cause warming temperatures in the Earth's atmosphere. 3The measure would make New Zealand the first country to have farmers pay for emissions from farm animals, the Ministry for Environment said. 4New Zealand, home to 5 million people, has about 10 million cattle and 26 million sheep. These animals release gases such as methane. 5Nearly half of New Zealand's total greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture. But agricultural emissions have previously not been part of the country's emissions trading plan. This has lead some to criticize the government's willingness to stop the greenhouse effect, known as global warming. 6Under an early version of the plan, which was put together by government and farm community representatives, farmers will have to pay for their gas emissions starting in 2025. Short-and long-lived farm gas will be priced separately, although a single measure to calculate their volume will be used. 7James Shaw is New Zealand's Climate Change Minister. 8He said, "There is no question that we need to cut the amount of methane we are putting into the atmosphere, and an effective emissions pricing system for agriculture will play a key part in how we achieve that." 9The proposal includes incentives for farmers who reduce emissions through feed additives, while on-farm forestry can be used to make up for emissions. Money from the plan will be invested in research, development and information services for farmers. 10Michael Ahie is chair of the climate action group He Waka Eke Noa. Ahie used the term sustainable, meaning involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources, to describe the plan. 11"Our recommendations enable sustainable food and fiber production for future generations while playing a fair part in meeting our country's climate commitments," Ahie said. 12The proposal would possibly be the biggest change to farming since the removal of agricultural subsidies in the 1980s, said Susan Kilsby, an agricultural economist at ANZ Bank. 13A final decision on the plan is expected in December. 14I'm Ashley Thompson. 15Lucy Craymer reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 16________________________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18emission - n. the act of producing or sending out something (such as energy or gas) from a source 19calculate -- v. to find (a number, answer, etc.) by using mathematical processes 20incentive - n. something that encourages a person to do something or to work harder 21fiber - n. plant material that cannot be digested but that helps you to digest other food; a thin thread of natural or artificial material that can be used to make cloth, paper, etc. 22subsidy - n. : money that is paid usually by a government to keep the price of a product or service low or to help a business or organization to continue to function