Government climate targets and methane policy

The story so far

In October 2025 the Government set a new methane reduction target of 14–24% below 2017 levels by 2050, and ruled out agricultural taxes on methane.^{12 Oct 2025} In November, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts proposed changes to the Climate Change Response Act, including delaying a public sector emissions goal by 25 years, delinking the Emissions Trading Scheme from the Paris Agreement, and ending some public and expert consultations on greenhouse gas limits.^{5 Nov 2025} In December, Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the Government would not buy overseas carbon offsets if it failed to meet Paris Agreement targets, a position the Green Party said made the agreement impossible to honour.^{2 Dec 2025} On 4 December the Government rejected all Climate Change Commission recommendations to strengthen emissions targets, including a tougher 2050 net-negative goal.^{4 Dec 2025}

Latest

The Green Party warns the decision could expose farmers to political uncertainty every three years.^{12 Dec 2025}

What's next

The methane target will be reviewed in 2040 to assess progress.^{12 Oct 2025}

Key moments

1. 12 Oct 2025Methane target set at 14–24% below 2017 levels by 2050
2. 5 Nov 2025Minister proposes delaying public sector emissions goal by 25 years
3. 2 Dec 2025Government rules out buying overseas carbon offsets to meet Paris targets
4. 4 Dec 2025Government rejects all Commission recommendations, including tougher 2050 net-negative goal
5. 12 Dec 2025Parliament passes methane target weakening bill under urgency in all three stages

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.