Methane reduction critical to cutting New Zealand's agricultural emissionsKELLY HODEL / FAIRFAX NZ There has only been a 5.1 per cent increase in livestock produced methane in New Zealand between 1990-2015. Over 35 per cent of New Zealand's gross emissions is methane that is belched from cows and sheep - this methane only survives around 12 years in the atmosphere on average. The New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre puts the increase at 15 per cent. The Government commissioned 2016 Motu Report on agricultural emissions clearly supported this logic by stating that no further warming will occur if methane emissions were stabilised for 10 years. If New Zealand farmers can reduce livestock methane emissions by 5.1 per cent over the next 25 years then they can put hand on heart and say their methane emissions have not contributed to climate change.

Source: Stuff January 08, 2018 03:45 UTC