by Macaulay Jones, Independent Consultant, Agriculture, Sustainability & Trade This November the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the 28th United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference, known as COP28. All 193 UN member countries will meet to negotiate rules that drive action on climate change and limit global warming to the 1.5 degrees goal outlined […]
NZ’s global reputation for agricultural excellence undermined by daft domestic policy
By Macaulay Jones, Senior Policy Advisor Climate Change, Trade, Forestry, Science & Innovation It’s hard to promote New Zealand’s championing of removal of the tariffs and other barriers that plague the international free trade of food products when our nation pursues other policies that bewilder, if not seriously irk, the world’s farmers. Let me explain…. […]
COP27 shows that agricultural emissions policy can be exciting; This is missing in New Zealand
Agriculture climate policy should be exciting in New Zealand. New Zealand farmers are well-placed to continue to export nutrient-packed food to a global population growing in number and wealth. However, climate policy in New Zealand is mired in negativity. The conversations at COP27 show this doesn’t have to be the way. Positive incentives for farmers […]
Q&A: He Waka Eke Noa vs government proposals
Confused about the He Waka Eke Noa pricing agricultural emissions and the government’s new proposal report? Federated Farmers senior policy advisor climate change, Macaulay Jones, has some answers. There were two key reports released this year on pricing agricultural emissions, the He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) Pricing recommendations report in May and the government proposal […]
EU NZ FTA shortcomings show why Kiwi Farmers need to treat each issue on its own merit
by Macaulay Jones, Federated Farmers Senior Policy Advisor The failure of the New Zealand Government to secure meaningful market access for the nation’s two dominant exports, dairy and red meat, via a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) demonstrates the folly of justifying poor domestic policies with the hope of elusive premiums […]
The global food security crisis, wicked problems and the challenge of unseen impacts
by Macaulay Jones, Federated Farmers Senior Policy Advisor The world is in a food security crisis. During the second half of the twentieth century over a billion people were lifted out of extreme poverty, and this trend seemed to be continuing into the early twenty-first century. In 2015 the United Nations (UN) announced that real […]
Industry has delivered HWEN, it’s now time for Minister O’Connor to deliver trade premiums
By Macaulay Jones, Federated Farmers Trade and Climate Change Senior Policy Advisor The primary sector has delivered its He Waka Eke Noa Emissions Pricing Recommendation report to Ministers, now it’s time for the Government and Minister O’Connor to deliver on their end of the bargain. In a 2020 public webinar hosted by The New Zealand […]
Open trade and climate action can work together
By Macaulay Jones, Federated Farmers Senior Policy Advisor Climate Change, Trade, Science & Innovation Supporting local businesses benefits the economy, but supporting local products is not always beneficial for the climate. As the world and New Zealand continues to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and policies enacted to curb its spread, many consumers are […]