Is it just hot air? Methane meets politics in NZ's climate policy

Is it just hot air? Methane meets politics in NZ's climate policy
Debate about reducing methane emissions has been stunted by a fear of looking like we’re pandering to farmers. (Image: Getty)
Adrian Macey and Dave Frame
In the third in this five-part analysis of New Zealand’s climate-change policy, former climate change negotiator Adrian Macey and climate scientist Dave Frame look at how we measure methane emissions from livestock, and how our international reputation appears to have affected policy decisions.A fundamental issue for NZ is the fact that the 30-year-old metric chosen by the United Nations to measure the different greenhouse gases (known as GWP100) is inaccurate for short-lived gases.It greatly overstates the warming caused by NZ’s me...

More Opinion

The 20% question
Opinion

David Chaplin: The 20% question

KiwiSavers' average per member is better than nothing, but probably not enough.

Polarisation: from talkback to the trading desk
Opinion

Dileepa Fonseka: Polarisation: from talkback to the trading desk

Political polarisation is becoming more of a worry for NZ investors.

Dileepa Fonseka 15 Sep 2025
The All’s, the In’s, the outs and AI …
Opinion

Simon Robertson: The All’s, the In’s, the outs and AI …

Discussing the future of the West and humanity is bone-chilling.

Simon Robertson 13 Sep 2025
Search and rescue: Google given a lifeline
Opinion

Peter Griffin: Search and rescue: Google given a lifeline

The digital economy deserves more than ceremonial change.

Peter Griffin 10 Sep 2025