Government Investment Initiatives under the Plan of Action

GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) FOOTPRINTING STRATEGY

September 2007

Supporting Work Programme for Pillars 2 and 3

Description

Under this initiative, the Government will work with the primary sector to develop a greenhouse gas (GHG) footprinting response. ‘Footprinting’ refers to measurement of a product’s GHG impact throughout its life cycle.

The initiative will also set in train investigation of opportunities for coordination in research, eco-verification, promotion, market development and international trade.

Background

There is significant and increasing pressure in some key export markets for information on the greenhouse gas-intensity of products throughout their life-cycle. The UK Government is also currently involved in the development of a standardised methodology for GHG footprinting.

There is a growing need in New Zealand for:

  • more proactive involvement in international efforts determining international ‘rules’ for measuring GHG embodied in a product and in any subsequent labelling regime;
  • a means by which primary producers can measure and validate their GHG footprints;
  • addressing gaps in current research and information on GHG emissions;
  • identifying weaknesses and threats regarding New Zealand’s GHG product and production profiles;
  • capitalising on business opportunities for low carbon-intensity products.

The proposed GHG footprinting strategy will also provide a platform for assessing other environmental information needs.

Initiatives

GHG footprinting will involve:

  • increased involvement with international methodology development for GHG footprinting;
  • establishing an expert focus group on GHG footprinting for the land-based primary sector;
  • supporting sector-led initiatives to establish GHG footprints for supply chains;
  • strengthening farm- and firm-level methodologies for calculating their GHG emissions.

Government Investment

Initiative 2007/08
$M		 2008/09
$M		 2009/10
$M		 2010/11
$M		 2011/12
$M		 Total to
2012
$M		 From 2013
annually
$M
Greenhouse-Gas
Footprinting strategy		 1.069 1.250 1.250 1.100 1.200 5.869 1.150

Links to other government initiatives

The programme is linked to other initiatives, including:

  • the Enhanced Research Initiative of the Plan of Action (see separate sheet);
  • the Technology Transfer Initiative of the Plan of Action (see separate sheet);
  • monitoring and measuring farm emissions and mitigation (see separate sheet);
  • the Government’s strengthened Eco-verification Initiative, one of six sustainability initiatives;
  • the Government’s ongoing response to the ‘food miles’ issue.

Next steps and implementation

It is proposed that an expert focus group made up of industry representatives, researchers and officials meet in early October 2007 to discuss the development of the strategy. This group will act as a steering group for the work programme.

Contact for Enquiries

Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change
MAF
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 CLIMATE (254 628)
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