Climate scientist queries ‘methane myth’ of Gluckman report

A leading climate researcher has blasted a New Zealand government report that claims rapid cuts to methane emissions will “buy time” for the country to take slower action on carbon reduction.

Dave Frame, director of the NZ Climate Change Research Institute at Victoria University of Wellington, says the report is “incorrect” and ignores emissions research published five years ago.

The report, by former chief science adviser Peter Gluckman, claims that driving down methane emissions from NZ farms will cut the rate at which carbon emissions need to be reduced. “The delay will allow more time to bring direct carbon dioxide emissions to net zero,” it says.