Alternative, complementary mechanisms to induce further greenhouse gas mitigation efforts by Australian farmers

In: http://hdl.handle.net/1885/13891

Abstract

In 2008 the Australian Government proposed a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) as a way of reducing Australia's emissions. Of these emissions the agricultural sector accounts for 16%. A decision regarding the coverage of agriculture under the CPRS will not be made until 2013, with the earliest possible date for agriculture's coverage being 2015, due to the difficulties surrounding measurement, and lack of alternative options for many of the key causes of these agricultural emissions (eg. the use of fertilisers). Due to the fact that agriculture contributed 16% of the total Australian emissions, there is significant pressure on the sector to make a further contribution to reducing emissions and to be accountable for these emissions. However due to the complex and variable nature of farm sector emissions, the CPRS has been deemed to be neither feasible nor comprehensive enough in drawing farmers to mitigate their emissions while incentivising Australian farmers to maximise the sequestration capacity of their operations. For agriculture to be included within the framework of the current CPRS much more research and development (R&D) needs to take place. Its has been suggested that alternative, complementary policies to the CPRS may be more appropriate in fostering and recognising resilient, sustainable, and well managed agricultural business. The adoption of complementary policies could assist agriculture to respond to a carbon constrained economy, even as an uncovered sector. One of the possible options for the adoption of complementary policies lies in the idea of Best Management Practice. While Best Management Practice (BMP) cannot be expected to greatly reduce current agricultural emissions the BMP's represent the basis for the development of policy that would allow for the reduction of on-farm emissions almost immediate! y. With any development of a complementary policy it will be important to consider if these complementary policies need to take a regulatory or market based approach in their development. The creation of a policy framework to meet required objective will also be important. Continuing R&D will need to take place to find solutions to reduce Agricultures emissions, and the role that countries like New Zealand could play in conjunction with Australia could be vital in finding these solutions. It will be important for key stakeholders, industry groups and Government to work together to create a policy that not only meets National and Kyoto targets but meets the needs of the agricultural industry in Australia. It will be vital for any solution to Agricultures emissions issues to ensure that the only way for Australian farmers to meet emissions targets does not happen through the reduction of production.