Science Media Centre

One billion tonnes. That’s how much the global agricultural industry needs to cut its emissions per year by 2030 to achieve the goals set at COP21 in Paris, according to a new study. An international team of scientists – including a New Zealander – calculated the required emissions cuts based on the goal of keeping […]

Increases in agriculture are the likely cause of a global rise in methane emissions over the last decade, according to New Zealand research published today in the journal Science. The concentration of greenhouse gas methane in the atmosphere rose steadily over the last century, before flattening out in the late 90’s.Then in 2006 methane levels […]

In order to help farmers make the best greenhouse gas mitigation choices, NIWA scientists are travelling the country to learn more about how paddocks emit these gases. The study will include  looking at the effectiveness of chemical sprays currently used to decrease nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural land. An excerpt: (read in full here) “Farmer […]

Eloise Gibson writes in the New Zealand Herald that the recent dry spell has led to lower greenhouse gas emissions. The drop in emissions is due to the increased culling farmers had to undertake in order to last through the drought, which has been particularly severe in in the Waikato and north of Taupo. An […]

Following the first meeting of the Global Research Alliance, Stephen Parker interviews Climate Change Negotiations Minister Tim Groser on the GRA’s importance, its implications, and New Zealand’s role therein. Video available here.

Kiran Chug writes in the Dominion Post that Prime Minister John Key has said that the $45m being spent by the NZ government on agricultural greenhouse gas mitigation research comes with no guarantees of success. The PM made his statements at the opening of the inaugural Global Research Alliance meeting in Wellington. An excerpt: (read […]

Fran O’Sullivan writes in the NZ Herald about the inaugural meeting of the Global Research Alliance, beginning today in Wellington. The GRA, which now has 28 member countries, was formed to examine the twin challenges of increasing world food production while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions produced by agriculture. An excerpt: (read in full here) […]

Today marked the beginning of the inaugural meeting of the Global Research Alliance (GRA) in Wellington.  The GRA was launched at the Copenhagen talks last year, and is regarded in some circles as the best thing to come out of the negotiations. Spearheaded by New Zealand and comprised of some 28 countries, as well as […]

Officials and scientists from 28 countries that have signed up to the Global Research Alliance will arrive in Wellington next week to hammer out a plan to “produce more food with fewer emissions”. A four day conference running from 7 – 10 April will include a morning of public sessions – speeches from Prime Minister […]

An article in the New Zealand Herald by Fran O’Sullivan outlining a research-based global alliance to reduce agricultural emissions. An excerpt: (read in full here) “The Groser-led initiative will be up for discussion during meetings with Australasian politicians, senior business people and officials in Sydney over the next two days. “He told the Business Herald […]