ACT party has proposed a new split-gas emissions target for New Zealand that would treat methane from agriculture differently than carbon dioxide from other sectors. Under the plan, short-lived gases like methane would only need to cause no additional warming rather than reaching net zero. The proposal would keep agriculture out of the Emissions Trading Scheme and reset emissions reduction plans around what ACT calls realistic targets. The policy builds on existing domestic targets that already use a split-gas approach, but would weaken the required methane reductions. A government-appointed science panel previously concluded methane cuts of 14-24 percent by 2050 would hold warming steady at 2017 levels, while current legislation requires 24-47 percent. The Climate Change Commission has said this weaker target is not enough to meet Paris Agreement goals. ACT argues New Zealand dairy has a carbon footprint 46 percent lower than the global average and that current Paris commitments are driving conversion of farmland to pine plantations. Critics point out that climate scientists say there is no way to limit warming to 1.5C or 2C without tackling methane from food production.
