Call for $1.8 billion investment in agriculture’s climate future

An ambitious plan launched today by Farmers for Climate Action to have farmers paid for looking after the environment could create almost 16,000 jobs by 2030, the group claims.

Farmers for Climate Action’s ambitious Regional Horizons proposal, launched today, calls for a $1.8 billion investment.

FARMERS would be paid for looking after the environment while having the latest climate-smart technologies at their fingertips, under a multi-billion dollar plan to kickstart regional communities.

Farmers for Climate Action’s ambitious Regional Horizons proposal, launched today, calls for a $1.8 billion investment, including a $1 billion fund to pick up where the Clean Energy Finance Corporation left off.

The plan to boost renewables and carbon farming could create $10.4 billion in revenue and almost 16,000 jobs by 2030, FCA claims.

FCA deputy chair Charlie Prell said reshaping the Government’s old carbon farming initiative so more farmers could access it would be a serious boost to regional Australia.

“This is not spending money, it’s investment in regional Australia,” he said.

“So far, I just can’t see anything out of the Federal Government’s recovery from COVID-19 that is going to be focused on or benefit regional Australia.

“We need to know what the vision for the regions is.”

The key to FCA’s plan is $500 million for a National Climate Change and Agriculture Work Plan, which was agreed to by state and federal agriculture ministers last year.

FCA said the plan should include a dedicated climate research program.

”The Work Plan has already been agreed to by the states, so if it isn’t a priority, it should be,” Mr Prell said.

A Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment spokeswoman said the plan was being developed by the climate change task group, chaired by Victoria, but meetings had been delayed due to COVID-19.

The plan would focus on developing better information and decision-making tools, as well as supporting climate adaptation and mitigation, the spokeswoman said.

“The group will be well placed to consider the views stakeholders including Farmers for Climate Action,” she said.

FCA also wants:

A $1 BILLION fund to support new projects and industries in regional Australia, as well as reward farmers for maintaining soils, wildlife habitats or farm forestry;

A NETWORK to help regional communities adapt to climate change; and

AN energy transition program to back regional communities to switch to clean energy.

Asked if he would consider FCA’s proposal, Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor said the Government was building on its previous emissions reduction fund through the new $2 billion Climate Solutions Fund.

“The (CSF) will create new opportunities for regional communities, farmers and businesses to support jobs and develop new income streams,” Mr Taylor said.

He said more than $500 million worth of abatement from projects in rural and regional Australia had been purchased since 2014 through the ERF, with another $1.4 billion in projects already committed.

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