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Abstract
Implementation of a New Zealand Emission Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) will begin in 2008, beginning with
forestry, subsequently including energy and industrial emissions, and finally, agricultural GHGs from
2013. Reducing agricultural emissions is a major challenge for New Zealand as they account for over half
its total GHG emissions. On the other hand, agriculture is critical to the economy, with its basic and
processed products accounting for a third of exports. We use an environmental input-output model to
analyse direct and indirect cost impacts of emissions pricing on food and fibre sectors. At NZ $25/t
CO₂-eq, costs of energy-related emissions on the food and fibre sectors are very small; however, costs of
agricultural emissions post 2013 would substantially impact on sheep, beef and dairy farming. Costeffective
mitigation measures and land use changes should help reduce micro- and macroeconomic
impacts, but the latter may also risk 'emissions leakage'.