Vegetables NZ Inc

TIME IS KEY FOR FUEL ALTERNATIVES

Words by Antony Heywood : Vegetables New Zealand Inc. general manager

Steps of the GHG emissions plan from page 56 of the Phasing out fossil fuels in process heat consultation document

The Covid-19 lockdown of 2020 was a sharp reminder that access to food is essential.

At no time did our growers stop harvesting. As essential workers, our industry continued to operate, ensuring that New Zealanders had access to fresh produce throughout. It is imperative that government policy recognises the essential nature of our food system and its importance in ensuring food security for millions of Kiwis. Growers and farmers are the key players in our regional food systems. They sustain our communities with more than just food. They provide employment, ancillary business support, diversity of business, entrepreneurial and economic sensibility and a multiplicity of perspectives and approaches, as well as ethnic inclusion. The consultation document Phasing out fossil fuels in process heat, informed by the imperative to transition to a low-emissions economy in order to address climate change, threatens growers’ ability to sustain that long-term food security unless a collective plan that enables ongoing food production can be agreed upon, and sufficient time allowed to transition to fuel alternatives.

So here is my challenge: Government consulting on the document has an intent to work with businesses to achieve the right outcomes. Growers are already of a ‘green’ mentality and want to do the right thing for the environment. Let’s stop talking about the why and how and work collaboratively to concentrate on the when. The consultation document raises a number of solid discussion topics. In particular, support around the uptake of best practices and transitioning to low emissions through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions plans.

The report does not give growers credit for their intent to be part of the solution. The horticulture industry is already targeting GHG reduction through: 1 Best practice guidelines. 2 Current EECA project to improve efficiency and reduce energy use. 3 Current EECA project to reduce carbon with renewable energy. 4 The industry intent to meet the 2050 target on

GHG emissions.

The 58-page consultation document states that the main considerations for imposing a GHG emissions plan and best practice requirements through national direction are to determine: • The information required in the emissions plan. • The thresholds that would trigger the preparation of a plan. • The role of regional councils in receiving, reviewing and assessing management plans. • The level of discretion to adopt best practices where

‘technically and economically feasible’. • Technical support to assess compliance with best practice requirements. • Monitoring, review and reporting requirements. (See page 39 of the report.)

With energy planning and delivery a high cost to business, there is a powerful incentive from industry to get it right

The next step for industry is to gain the support of government. Growers can be trusted to deliver an industry transition plan. With energy planning and delivery a high cost to business, there is a powerful incentive from industry to get it right. The investment of capital needs a long payback period. Government can give that assurance by adopting the plan with industry. A transition plan needs to consider: 1 Best practice independent audit. 2 An energy transition plan. 3 Best practice risk-based action plan framework adoption. 4 National Environment Standard (NES) schedule based on goals of Industry plan. 5 Threshold levels to provide stability for Industry – diminishing with technology transfer. 6 Regional council’s adoption of Industry best practice audits. 7 Industry dashboard to monitor and report the metric reduction – giving confidence to goals and targets of the GHG plan. A grower-lead initiative, delivered by industry outcomes and enabled by government, is a plan that has all the elements of success. A transition plan needs the commitment of all parties to get the outcomes needed from stakeholders, including the people of New Zealand.

Read the full consultation document here:

https://consult.environment. govt.nz/climate/phasingout-fossil-fuels-in-processheat/supporting_documents /phasingoutfossilfuelsin processheat.pdf)

Phasing out fossil fuels in process heat National direction on industrial greenhouse gas emissions Consultation document