Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Footprinting Strategy
April 2009
Description
The New Zealand Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Footprinting Strategy for the Land-Based Primary Sectors was an initiative developed in partnership with the primary sector at the end of 2007.
The strategy seeks to position New Zealand’s land-based primary sectors to respond to significant and increasing pressure by key export markets for information on the GHG-intensity for primary products.
It also responds to a growing need in New Zealand for:
- more proactive involvement in international efforts determining international ‘rules’ for measuring GHG embodied in a product and in any subsequent labeling regimes;
- a means by which primary producers can measure and validate their GHG footprints;
- addressing gaps in current research and information on GHG emissions;
- identifying weaknesses and threats regarding New Zealand’s GHG product and production profiles; and
- capitalising on business opportunities for low carbon-intensity products.
Background
Changes in consumer and retailer demands in some markets are driving substantial changes in the value chains that New Zealand’s primary industries participate in. There is an increasing expectation that products have sustainability credentials, and that these can be verified.
Over the last 18 months there has been growing international interest in GHG footprinting of products and services. Governments are also becoming increasingly involved, for example, the UK Government’s work on developing a standardised methodology for measuring embodied GHGs in products and services. The International Standards Organisation is now developing international standard for GHG footprinting and communication as well as the World Resources Institute/World Business Council for Sustainable Development who jointly developed the GHG Protocol – the most widely used standard for corporate accounting of GHG emissions.
GHG footprinting (also referred to as carbon footprinting)
GHG footprinting uses a life-cycle analysis approach to determine the total emissions of greenhouse gases (in carbon equivalents) across the entire life-cycle of a product or service. It is a more valid comparison then just food miles (or distance traveled) because it includes all the inputs and outputs of GHGs in the production, supply, use and disposal of a product.
Goal and outcomes of the NZ Strategy for the Land-Based Primary Sectors
The goal for the New Zealand GHG Footprinting Strategy for the Land-Based Primary Sectors is:
New Zealand primary industries can operate in markets with credibility and where necessary use internationally recognised, transparent and validated GHG footprinting methodologies (‘rules’).
There are three overall outcomes for the strategy:
- international rules to verify GHG footprinting are fair and transparent;
- rules are applied fairly and without discrimination internationally; and
- New Zealand primary producers participate in GHG measurement and enhance their GHG performance.
Six additional intermediate outcomes support these:
- methodologies for GHG footprinting of New Zealand primary products are developed;
- companies can access information and tools to improve GHG product performance;
- New Zealand producers can do the calculations, or have them done by a third party at reasonable cost;
- transaction costs for multiple requirements are minimised;
- New Zealand engages effectively in the development of international standards; and
- a process exists for the robust verification of compliance with standards.
Potential benefits of GHG footprinting
- Developing a broader understanding of the environmental impacts, risks and liabilities associated with a product, process or service;
- identifying key areas for product and process improvements;
- developing indicators for the potential environmental impacts of a product or service;
- identifying potential efficiency gains;
- reducing GHG emissions and demonstrating commitment to tackling climate change;
- maintaining and/or enhancing market access; and
- improving relationships with suppliers and customers.
Initiatives
The Strategy includes work in three main areas:
International engagement
International engagement will be aimed at positioning New Zealand at the forefront of international work around GHG footprinting of primary products by:
- ensuring that New Zealand is an influential leader in developing robust, transparent and pragmatic GHG footprinting methodologies for primary products;
- contributing world-class analysis and research input into the development of overarching international standards for GHG footprinting;
- telling a wider story around New Zealand’s desire to reduce GHG emissions and backing this up with case studies that demonstrate robust practices of measuring, managing and mitigating GHG emissions across the primary sector supply chain; and
- advocating for collaboration across countries and markets to ensure consistent and fair approaches are taken on GHG footprinting issues.
Sector-led initiatives to establish GHG footprints for primary sector supply chains
The development of sector-specific approaches (‘sector methodologies’) to GHG footprinting are activities that work with primary sector ‘early adopters’ to develop comprehensive methodologies for measuring GHG emissions across the supply chain of a primary product.
The methodology developed for a specific industry (e.g. kiwifruit) can then be used to leverage learning to the wider sector (e.g. horticulture). This approach aims to facilitate sectors to measure, manage and (if desired) mitigate GHG emissions across the supply chain.
The successful projects for the 2007/08 and 2008/2009 funding round are listed below.
| Sector | Project leader | Other project members |
|---|---|---|
| Berry-fruit | Landcare Research | Boysenberry NZ, Blackcurrant NZ |
| Dairy | Fonterra | AgResearch, University of New South Wales, Scion |
| Forestry | Scion | Landcare Research, Wood Processors Association; Nelson Forests, Tenon, Laminex, Earnslaw Bioenergy |
| Kiwifruit | Landcare Research | Zespri, HortResearch, AgriLink NZ Ltd, Massey University |
| Lamb | AgResearch | Meat Industry Association, Balance AgriNutrients, Landcorp, Meat & Wool New Zealand, Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited |
| Onions | AgriLink | Onions New Zealand |
| Venison | AgResearch | DeerResearch/DINZ, Landcorp |
| Beef/Mutton | AgResearch | MIA, Landcorp, Balance Agrinutrients, MWNZ |
| Summerfruit | SummerfruitNZ | CATALYST® R&D Ltd |
| Pipfruit | Landcare Research | PipfruitNZ |
| Wine | Landcare Research | New Zealand Winegrowers, HortResearch |
The following criteria apply to all projects:
- any methodology developed has to be a practical and feasible option for New Zealand producers to use to calculate a GHG footprint for primary products;
- the development of a methodology must be industry/sector led in conjunction with research providers. Industry must contribute financially to the development of the methodology;
- any methodology must be aligned with ISO GHG emissions inventory and reporting standards and New Zealand’s national GHG emission inventory and be consistent with international best-practice;
- the Crown owns intellectual property, copyright or merchandising rights in or arising from such work. The methodology developed will be freely available to New Zealand primary industries; and
- options and guidance for GHG footprinting must be developed for the sector, including industry strategies for uptake, promotion and leveraging of learning to the wider primary sector.
International Standards
Three of the most influential processes in the development of international standards for the GHG footprinting of products and services are:
- UK DEFRA/British Standards/Carbon Trust draft standard (PAS 2050);
- an International Standards Organisation (ISO) proposal to develop an international standard for GHG footprinting and communication; and
- a World Resources Institute (WRI) proposal to establish an international standard for product accounting of GHG emissions.
Publicly Available Specification on GHG Footprinting for Products and Services (PAS 2050)
The Publicly Available Specification on GHG Footprinting for Products and Services (PAS 2050) which was developed by British Standards, DEFRA and the Carbon Trust was released on 29 October 2008. For more information go to:
International Standards Organisation (ISO)
In late 2008, ISO confirmed that it would develop an international standard on GHG footprinting of products and services and an accompanying communication standard. This was after member countries voted in November 2008 on whether a standard should be developed or not. New Zealand voted affirmatively for a standard to be developed in the interests of achieving a fair and international approach to carbon footprinting.
New Zealand is represented on the ISO Working Group developing the standard. The Standard is due to be completed in 2011.
World Resources Institute (WRI)
The other main international standard-maker in GHG footprinting, the World Resources Institute (WRI) announced its intention in mid-2008 to develop a product level GHG footprint standard. The WRI (and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development) developed the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) which is the most widely used international accounting tool to measure and manage greenhouse gas emissions at firm level. It is therefore likely that a WRI standard for product accounting would have widespread international uptake.
New Zealand is represented on the Steering Group that has overall responsibility for developing the Standard as well as a number of technical groups. Suzie Greenhalgh from Landcare New Zealand chairs the technical group looking at rules and requirements for the collection and use of data in the calculation of carbon footprints.
Officials are monitoring this development carefully. For more information see:
Professorship in Life-Cycle Management in Agriculture and Forestry
Proposals have been received from interested universities to establish New Zealand's first professorship for the study of the environmental footprint of our primary products. An announcement on the successful university is expected in early April 2009.
For the press release announcing this initiative see:
Links to other government initiatives
The programme is linked to other initiatives, including:
- initiatives within the Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change Plan of Action;
- the Government’s Eco-verification Initiative, one of six sustainability initiatives;
- the Government’s ongoing response to “food miles” and sustainable exporting issues.
New Zealand Workshop on GHG Footprinting for the Primary Sectors
MAF convened a one-day workshop for the primary industry on its GHG Footprinting Strategy and associated sector methodologies on 8 September 2008. It brought together all those involved in the current GHG footprint projects and other stakeholders in the primary sector to:
- share information from current projects, including the risks, opportunities and future strategies around GHG footprinting for the NZ primary sector;
- discuss next steps from a sector perspective, including opportunities to work together;
- provide a chance for industries not yet undertaking GHG footprint work to learn from others and assess the potential for undertaking similar projects themselves; and
- provide a market intelligence update on related sustainability issues in international markets.
More information on this workshop will be posted soon.
Wider focus on overall environmental performance
The strategy also provides a platform for assessing other environmental information needs. MAF are investigating pilot projects to look at how our primary sectors might respond to these growing demands and what work might have already been done.
Contact for Enquiries
Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change
MAF
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 CLIMATE (254 628)
Contact this person
