NZ Resets 2050 Methane Target

New Zealand has officially enacted new legislation to significantly reduce its biogenic methane target for 2050. The Climate Change Response (2050 Target and Other Matters) Amendment Bill successfully passed its third reading in Parliament on December 12, 2025, as reported by beehive.govt.nz.

This legislative shift aims to strike a crucial balance between achieving necessary emissions reductions and safeguarding the nation's vital agricultural productivity. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts stated that the changes provide certainty for farmers and exporters, according to Xinhua.

The updated target now mandates a reduction in biogenic methane emissions by 14-24 percent below 2017 levels by 2050. This represents a notable adjustment from the previous target range of 24-47 percent reduction, as confirmed by devdiscourse News Desk.

Government officials emphasized that the prior, more ambitious target was deemed "unrealistic" and posed "undue economic cost" to the country, according to beehive.govt.nz. This move reflects an ongoing effort to manage climate change impacts while acknowledging economic realities, particularly for the agricultural sector.

The government's strategy focuses on a technology-led approach, committing over $400 million to develop methane-cutting tools. Climate Change Minister Simon Watts stressed that reductions would come through innovation, not by shutting down farms, as reported by Xinhua.

While agricultural groups, including Federated Farmers of New Zealand, lauded the decision as "long overdue," environmental campaigners and scientists expressed strong disapproval. Greenpeace Aotearoa labeled the policy shift as "full-blown climate denial," Agence France-Presse reported.

The bill was passed under urgency, a move criticized by opposition parties and environmental advocates for bypassing public consultation and thorough scrutiny, according to scoop News. This expedited process underscores the government's determination to implement the changes swiftly.

• New Zealand's climate change framework, established by the 2019 Zero Carbon Act, adopted a "split gas approach" to emissions. This differentiates between long-lived gases like carbon dioxide and short-lived biogenic methane, primarily from livestock, which accounts for nearly half of the nation's total greenhouse gas emissions, as detailed by the Ministry for the Environment.

• The agricultural sector is a cornerstone of New Zealand's economy, making the management of its emissions a complex challenge. The previous government had aimed for a 24-47% reduction in biogenic methane by 2050, alongside a 10% reduction by 2030, which remains unchanged, according to Anderson Lloyd.

• The newly legislated target resets the 2050 biogenic methane reduction to a range of 14-24% below 2017 levels. This adjustment means the upper bound of the new target is now below the lower bound of the previous target, a significant weakening noted by the Science Media Centre.

• Agriculture Minister Todd McClay stated that the government's decision was based on a "science-based" approach, reflecting findings from an independent Methane Science Review. The government is investing over $400 million with industry to accelerate the development and deployment of methane-reducing technologies, with the first tools expected by 2026, beehive.govt.nz confirmed.

• The move has drawn sharp criticism from environmental organizations and some scientific experts. Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Rhiannon Mackie accused the government of "abandoning New Zealand's climate credibility," while Massey University expert Ralph Sims questioned the reliance on future technological solutions, Agence France-Presse reported.

• Conversely, the agricultural community has largely welcomed the revised targets. Federated Farmers President Wayne Langford described the previous targets as "absolute madness" and expressed relief for farming families, according to Agence France-Presse. This highlights the deep division in perspectives on climate policy's impact on the sector.

• The government pushed the Climate Change Response (2050 Target and Other Matters) Amendment Bill through Parliament under urgency. Green Party MP Francisco Hernandez criticized this approach, arguing it bypassed proper public consultation and select committee scrutiny, potentially exposing farmers to political uncertainty, Scoop news reported.

• Despite lowering the biogenic methane target, the government maintains its commitment to the net-zero target for long-lived gases by 2050. The legislation also includes a provision for a review of the methane target in 2040 to ensure alignment with scientific advancements and international progress, as stated by beehive.govt.nz.