| Sourced From Sl.farmonline.com.au |
The Grain Growers Association (GGA) has welcomed confirmation agriculture will not be a covered sector under the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) but is now calling on the Government to develop a protocol to recognise farm-based carbon offsets.
According to the GGA, the position agreed to by the Government brings Australian agriculture into line with farmers in the USA and other countries, harmonising the way agriculture can mitigate global emissions.
“But the major issue for agriculture is not so much the CPRS but the treatment of agricultural practices within the international accounting rules which is then translating into the domestic approach,” said Bryan Clark, GGA industry development manager.
Under the Kyoto Protocol methane and nitrous oxide from farms are counted as emissions but have no regard for the carbon and nitrogen captured throughout the natural cycles.
“We need to ensure the international rules reflect natural biological systems and maximise them as a way to reduce atmospheric carbon levels. If we don’t we will end up with perverse responses where the only way to reduce agriculture emission is to stop food production,” Mr Clark said.
