Pricing agricultural emissions and setting standards for forests

On Friday 18 November, LCANZI made two submissions relating to emissions trading and offsetting.

The first submission was on He Waka Eke Noa, the pricing of agricultural emissions. The submission focusses on the need to reduce agricultural emissions by far more than the current levels proposed. We submitted that the low level of ambition in the reduction target as unconscionable in the face of the climate crisis. You can read the full submission here. The submission was written by James Every-Palmer KC, chair of our ETS subcommittee, and Cassandra Kenworthy, chair of our Agriculture subcommittee.

The second submission was on the National Direction for Plantation and Exotic Carbon Afforestation. The submission made several recommendations, for example, we proposed that there be a requirement for Forest Management Plans for exotic carbon forests to include detailed methods and milestones to transition to indigenous forestry. We also supported proposals requiring robust wildfire risk management plans. You can read the full submission here. The submission was written by Duncan Ballinger, member of our Local Government Subcommittee.

If you are interested in joining either our ETS or agriculture subcommittees, please email admin@lawyersforclimateaction.nz.