Rural

from Wairarapa Midweek Wed 19th August

Carterton

28 Wairarapa Midweek Rural Wednesday, August 19, 2020 The Greens’ science approach ‘spot on’

“They issued the challenge in relation to the recent positive covid-19 cases in Auckland but as a party that should be interested in consistency and logic, we look forward to the Greens also applying this ‘listen to the science’ principle to issues such as genetic engineering technologies and methane emissions,” Federated Farmers President Andrew Hoggard said.

In a press statement headlined ‘Greens call for continued commitment

to science from political leaders’, co-leader James Shaw said in the wake of the new cases of covid-19 from community transmission “... now is the time to band together as a country, be directed by the science, and back good decision-making”.

“This is spot on,” Hoggard said. “Science also tells us that unlike the longlived greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, biological methane from New Zealand’s farmed livestock does not need to be reduced to net zero to have no additional eff ect on global warming.

“A reduction of 10- 22 per cent by 2050 is suffi cient, yet the climate change legislation put in place by the government has a much harsher, non-science based target which will only add extra signifi cant economic costs and undermine the competitiveness of our meat and dairy in the international

Greens co-leader James Shaw. The Greens have called for continued commitment to science from political leaders. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES market.”

The Greens have been similarly science obtuse in relation to GE.

“Gene editing technologies have huge potential in our fi ght to be predator-free, to deal with pest plants such as wilding pines, and to develop new types of grasses that will lead to ruminant animals emitting less methane. But the Greens appear to have had a closed mind on GE, despite scientists such as Sir Peter Gluckman endorsing the need to debate and embrace these technologies,” Hoggard said.

The opportunity cost of New Zealand’s stubborn policy toward GE will only increase as the exciting technology continues to mature, leaving New Zealand worse off and off ering an increasing competitive advantage to other countries.

“All we are asking is that consumers and producers are empowered to make their own decisions on the technology, rather than being hamstrung by restrictive regulations that ignore the best available science.

“The Greens’ new professed enthusiasm to be guided by science is most welcome,” Hoggard said.

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