Over 2,000 farmers responded to a joint survey by Groundswell NZ, NZ Farming, and the Methane Science Accord. The results are summarised below, including:

• 94% of farmers believe remaining in the Paris Accord is not in the country’s best interest.
• 87% of farmers believe their businesses will be negatively or very negatively impacted over the next decade if current climate policy settings persist.
• 80% believe agriculture is carrying an unfair share of emissions reduction.

“Farmers are calling for a shift from ideology-driven targets towards grounded, practical environmental action that aligns with rural values and realities,” says Helen Mandeno, Methane Science Accord.

“This survey shows farmers understand that poverty is the only way to comply with the Paris Agreement and that methane mitigation technology only gets in the way of using our land to efficiently turn water, air, and sunshine into protein,” says Bryce McKenzie, Groundswell NZ.

“When grassroots farmers get a chance to have their say, it’s obvious that agriculture sector leadership are out of touch with the people they are supposed to represent,” says Duncan Humm, NZ Farming.

Other key findings include:

• 95% oppose New Zealand’s commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050.
• 77% disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement that New Zealand should stay signed on to the Paris Agreement.
• 66% favour investing in practical environmental work, while only 2.4% support investment in methane reduction technologies.
• 79% said reducing methane from livestock was “not at all important,” while 71% stated they would not adopt methane mitigation measures, even if tools or technologies were readily available.

The survey is a collaborative effort between NZ Farming, Groundswell, and the Methane Science Accord. Shared with over 419,000 followers, the survey offered grassroots New Zealand farmers a chance to have their say on 10 questions focused on ruminant methane and the economic impact of the Paris Accord on both farming businesses and the broader economy.

ENDS

Note: See the Summary Report below