4 March 2010 Centre launched to tackle greenhouse gas problem

Lincoln University had a prominent presence at the launching by the Prime Minister this week of the New Zealand Greenhouse Gas Research Centre in Palmerston North.

The University is one of nine partners who have come together to tackle the greenhouse gas issue. The partners are AgResearch, DairyNZ, Landcare Research, Lincoln University, Massey University, NIWA, Plant and Food Research, the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium and the Crown research institute Scion.

The Prime Minister said the “clock was ticking” on finding a global solution to climate change, and cutting methane and nitrous oxide emissions was one area in which New Zealand could lead the world.

Centre director Dr Harry Clark said the partners were tackling an issue of national and international importance and the Centre would be a point of contact with the Global Research Alliance, a body which had emerged from the climate change talks in Copenhagen.

The Government is investing $50 million in the Centre, funded from the Primary Growth Partnership, a Government-industry fund for research that boosts economic growth in the primary and food sectors.

Pictured here from Lincoln University at the launch, with Prime Minister John Key, are from left: soil scientist Professor Keith Cameron, soil scientist Professor Hong Di and Vice-Chancellor Professor Roger Field. Professor Cameron and Professor Di are prominent for their work on the mitigation of nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide emissions from animal urine in grazed pastures and the development of the eco-n nitrification inhibitor technology to mitigate these leaching and gaseous losses.