| Climate change policy and the sheepmeat industry |
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The Federal Government has stated it's committed to reducing Australia’s green house gas (GHG) emissions as much as 25 per cent of 2000 levels by 2020. One component of the Government’s policy to meet this target is the implementation of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Strategy (CPRS).The Government has stated that it is disposed to including agriculture in the CPRS by 2015, with a decision to be made in 2013. The National Farmers Federation’s (NFF) recently said that coverage of direct emissions from agriculture under the CPRS cap is no longer an appropriate policy consideration in attempting to drive optimal mitigation outcomes. SCA fully supports that instead, efforts should be refocused on alternative mechanisms for climate change mitigation from the agriculture sector. The NFF is taking the lead role for agriculture in lobbying for positive outcomes for producers in the climate change debate. SCA is working under the NFF umbrella on behalf of sheepmeat producers. SCA provided input into the Senate enquiry on the CPRS, arguing that the CPRS is inappropriate for the sheepmeat industry and wider agriculture sector. SCA continues to work with the NFF in lobbying for changes to the international accounting rules that govern Australia’s actions. Currently, the rules do not recognise producers' positive contribution on-farm, including the full carbon cycle and agriculture’s ability to sequester carbon. SCA support the NFF view that:
NFF’s engagement in Copenhagen earlier this year with the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) summit, identified that other countries are astounded that Australia and New Zealand would consider a CPRS policy route (a tax on food production) to account for agricultural emissions. This policy route has implications for the food production supply chain and for Australia’s international competitiveness. View the NFF speech delivered at the IFAP summit The NFF is currently on a delegation to the Council of Parties (COP) meeting in Copenhagen. The meeting represents an important negotiating round for the new Kyoto Protocol. Sheepmeat Council promotes research through MLA to assist sheepmeat producers in accessing the best options for maintaining profitability in an environment affected by Government policies. MLA is currently undertaking several joint-funded research programs, some of which cover soil carbon, adaption to variable climates and options for reducing emissions from livestock. Australian exports account for two-thirds of total Australian farm produce (the sheepmeat industry exports 45% of lamb production and 77% of mutton production). It is therefore critical that the development of any climate change policy considers the international context in regard to the problem and the solution. An interesting read: Read about producers' positive contribution to the environment Read about the Cattle Council's policy position on the CPRS Read about 'what we know' on climate change by Meat and Livestock Australia Read about NFF's views on climate change policy and agriculture |