An assessment of climate mitigation co-benefits arising from the freshwater reforms

The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FWM) 2014 supports improved freshwater management in New Zealand by directing regional councils to establish objectives and set limits for freshwater in their regional plans. The question this project aims to address is whether there are biophysical co-benefits or additional risks for GHG emissions arising from farmer responses to these freshwater reforms (FWR). This will allow MPI to assess what progress can be achieved in decreasing GHG emissions by the freshwater reforms and could inform future development of GHG and freshwater policies.

There is a wide range of projects focused on estimating GHG emissions from farm systems and the effects of various interventions. However, the added value of this project is that it (a) links water quality and GHG emissions, (b) estimates the implications across a range of sectors, (c) provides MPI with an early indication of co-benefits or otherwise (scope and size) likely to be achieved by water policy reforms, and (d) engages industry partners to provide and validate sector information. It also gives an early warning of potential mismatches between policy for water quality and effects on GHGs.