New Zealand, home to 5 million people, has about 10 million cattle and 26 million sheep and nearly half its total greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, mainly methane. It is one of the first countries to announce it will price agricultural emissions, but the government has faced criticism from parts of the farming community which is concerned about the cost. “It’s important the system to manage and price agricultural emissions is workable, effective, fiscally responsible and set up to last. Scientifically validated carbon sequestration such as tree planting around waterways and indigenous forestry would be recognised in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme, he added. National, the largest opposition party, says it will only look to price farm emissions by 2030.

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Persons: Noel Womersley, Canterbury Homekill, Jorge Silva, Damien O’Connor, ” Kate Acland, Lucy Craymer, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Labour, Agriculture, Zealand, National, Thomson Locations: Canterbury, Christchurch , New Zealand, New Zealand, Zealand