OPINION: Here we go again. New Zealand’s about to throw itself under the economic bus, all in the name of saving the planet. Climate - Weather Change Minister Simon Watts is gearing up to outdo Jacinda Ardern’s already eye-watering $24 billion climate commitment - $12,000 per household! But here’s the kicker, our emissions are so small they barely register on a global scale. So why are we playing hero when the real culprits, China, the US, and India, are still belching emissions like there’s no tomorrow?
It’s maddening. Sure, we all want a greener planet, but let’s not bankrupt ourselves in the process. Agriculture is the scapegoat here, with its cow farts and methane emissions being blamed for everything short of the ozone hole. But let’s get real - gutting our dairy and meat industries right now would cripple rural communities and jack up food prices faster than you can say "organic soy latte."
Enter biotech and bio-manufacturing. This isn’t sci-fi, it’s science fact, and it could save our bacon (or maybe replace it). Precision fermentation, cultivated meat, lab-grown dairy, these are game-changers. Imagine producing milk without the cows or creating meat in a lab that tastes just as good as the real thing. Suddenly, we’re not just cutting emissions—we’re leading the charge in sustainable food innovation.
But here’s the rub, are we bold enough to back these technologies before the government ties us to a sinking ship of impossible climate targets? The opportunity is there for the taking, but only if Wellington stops pretending we’re the world’s climate savior and starts acting like the small, smart country we are.
So, what’s it going to be? Economic collapse or biotech boom? Simon Watts might want to think twice before he signs us up for a future we can’t afford. It’s time for a reality check—and a healthy dose of innovation.
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