Hon Jim Anderton - 1/02/2007 - The government is seeking
direct feedback from farmers and foresters on ways to deal
with climate change issues.
Farmer and forester forums are being held in eight North
Island and five South Island centres over the next two months.
A discussion document released in December, Sustainable
Land Management and Climate Change, puts up options to help
the agricultural and forestry sectors deal with the effects
of climate change.
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Jim Anderton, says
the government wants to know which mix of options is preferred
by the sectors.
“The focus is on helping the sectors adapt to the impacts
of climate change, make the most of business opportunities
presented by climate change, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions
and increase forests (which absorb carbon).
“These public forums are the start of what I hope will
be long term discussions with the sectors. Climate change
issues are going to be on the table for decades to come,
and solutions are going to depend on a constructive and
durable relationship with the land management sectors,”
Jim Anderton said.
David Parker, Minister for Climate Change Issues, said
climate change is a reality. "No government can afford
to ignore the economic, social and environmental impacts.
We need to work closely with the sectors to ensure we put
in place short and long-term measures.
"Every sector of the community is going to have to
address climate change, not just agriculture and forestry.”
The farmer and forester forums will run from 13 February
until 8 March in Gisborne, Nelson, Hamilton, Hastings, Whangarei,
Rotorua, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Masterton, Christchurch,
Invercargill, Greymouth and Dunedin. Details are attached.
Submissions on the discussion document close on 30 March
2007. No decisions will be made on the preferred policy
package until after the submissions have been considered.
Regional hui are also being held in Gisborne, Nelson, Hamilton,
Whangarei, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Christchurch, and Invercargill
to discuss the government’s wider climate change and energy
plans with Maori.
The document can be ordered on 0800 CLIMATE or downloaded
from www.maf.govt.nz/climatechange. Details of the meetings
are also available.
For more general climate change information including the
government’s various policy consultations see www.climatechange.govt.nz
Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change – Options
for a Plan of Action
Farmer and Forester Forum Details
Venues in each centre will be listed on the Ministry of
Agriculture and Forestry website shortly www.maf.govt.nz/climatechange
