Climate Change & the National Emissions Trading Scheme

The Federal government has announced that the commencement of the National Emissions Trading Scheme (NETS) will be brought forward to 2010.  The former government was working to a 2012 commencement date.  While no detail has yet been provided about how agricultural emissions will be treated, or how a carbon market would apply to agricultural sequestration and abatement activities, the government intends to include agriculture under a cap on emissions, possibly at commencement in 2010.

Given the critical nature of this issue to agricultural producers,  the Association is working with other state farming organisations and the National Farmers Federation to make representations to Goverment on the details of the NETS and other aspects of climate change policy.  A number of submissions have been made to relevant bodies and consultation processes.  These are provided below.

Key climate change submissions & recent policy

 NSW Farmers’ Association Submission to the NSW Standing Committee on Natural Resource Management (Climate Change)

The Association’s December 2007 submission highlights the need for industry driven research and development on climate change adaptation.   It also details the potential problems associated with the proposed national emissions trading scheme and the need to prevent negative impacts on the farm sector and regional communities.

 Climate change policy passed at Parkes Executive Council in March 2008

This policy details the conditions that would need to apply if Agriculture was included in the National Emissions Trading Scheme.

NFF submissions

 Inquiry Into Climate Change and the Australian Agricultural Sector (350.9 kb PDF)

The NFF's 14 March 2008 submission to the Senate Inquiry looking at the challenges for farm system adaptation and advocates urgent, nationally coordinated research and development on climate change adaptation. This is in line with NFF policy on drought and reinforces the NFF’s push for investment in drought management and preparedness...

 Submission to the Garnaut Report on Climate Change: Land Use - Agriculture and Forestry (489.1 kb PDF)

The NFF's 11 January 2008 submission to the Garnaut Report calling for new investment in climate adaptation and mitigation strategies for Australian agriculture – including drought preparedness measures (investing today to better drought-proof Australia tomorrow through mutual obligation measures), as well as new research, development and implementation of technologies, systems and programs that can fast-track adaption by farmers to the threat of increased climate risk. The submission also highlights the need for any Australian emissions trading scheme to take full account of agriculture's total 'life cycle'...

 Abatement Incentives Prior to the Commencement of the Australian Emissions Trading Scheme (342.2 kb PDF)

The NFF's 1 December 2007 submission to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, outlining the issues faced by agriculture that require urgent attention by Government in the lead up to any Australian Emissions Trading Scheme...