Whakatane District Council is the latest to chip in on the Ministry for the Environment's proposed Zero Carbon Bill.

The council's submission, which has been discussed extensively at the recent Council Policy Committee meeting, supports net zero emissions of long-lived greenhouse gases by 2050 and the stabilisation of short-lived gases, such as methane, at or below existing levels.

Although there was support for a proposed, ‘aspirational' net zero emissions target across all greenhouse gases, concerns about the likely impact on dairy industry viability and the local and national economy saw the draft approach amended.

Councillor Gerard van Beek has pointed out rotting vegetation and municipal effluent treatment ponds both emit methane and says a compulsory zero emissions policy will come at a 'horrendous cost”.

Councillor Russell Orr says dairy cows produce a significant proportion of the country's greenhouse gas emissions and the only way to change that would be to reduce the number of cows.

'That would mean we could end up in a position where the entire country suffers.”

Members supported the alternative, short-lived greenhouse gas emissions stabilisation target provided by the Ministry for the Environment.

All other aspects of the draft Bill were supported, including the setting of emissions budgets and timeframes; and that the Bill should cover adapting to climate change.

The Zero Carbon Bill is open for public submissions until 5pm, Thursday, July 19. More information can be found at www.mfe.govt.nz/have-your-say-zero-carbon