Farmers’ warning on climate action as more countries flag carbon border taxes

Debate on whether agriculture should be exempt from a net-zero emissions target continues – but some farmers warn the choice to act may be taken out of our hands. See the results from our online poll here.

Farmers have weighed in on the net zero carbon target.

AUSTRALIA’S agricultural exports could be harmed if the Federal Government doesn’t take greater action to combat climate change, as more countries flag the possibility of introducing carbon import taxes.

That’s the warning from lobby group Farmers for Climate Action, following indications some of Australia’s biggest trading partners – including Japan, the European Union, and the US – are considering putting carbon border taxes on products from countries with less ambitious climate targets.

It comes as debate continues in Canberra this week on whether Australia will adopt a net-zero emissions by 2050 target – and what agriculture’s role in such a target should be.

Nationals backbenchers including Barnaby Joyce, Matt Canavan and Bridget McKenzie have all called for agriculture to be “carved out” from a net-zero goal, a sentiment backed by leader Michael McCormack, arguing agriculture has done enough “heavy lifting” to reduce emissions.

But that view puts the Nationals firmly at odds with the sector, with the National Farmers’ Federation and most commodity groups backing net-zero by 2050.

An informal online poll conducted by The Weekly Times last week indicated farmers were split on the issue: 51.4 per cent of respondents were in favour of agriculture being included in a net-zero target, while 48.6 per cent thought it should be excluded.

The results were far more decisive among the non-farming community, however, with 89.1 per cent believing agriculture should be included, and just 10.9 per cent wanting it carved out.

FCA chair Charlie Prell said indications from Australia’s trading partners that they could bring in carbon import taxes meant “we’ve been put on notice”, and action would be necessary to remain competitive in the global market.

“We need to set the destination, a target, and then use a road map to get there,” he said.

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said on Monday the Nationals wanted to “see the details” of how net-zero would be achieved instead of “blindly signing up for something we haven’t seen”. His department is working on a biodiversity stewardship program that would see farmers rewarded for looking after the environment.

His view was echoed by Victorian Nationals Damian Drum and Anne Webster, who agreed a plan was necessary first.

“It’s very clear we expect agriculture to be a serious contributor, but we’re not prepared to sit back and watch it be negatively impacted,” Mr Drum said.

But Greens agriculture spokesman Peter Whish-Wilson said the Nationals were ignoring farming groups that had backed climate action for some time.

“(Mr Littleproud’s) comments that he is open to adopting net-zero emissions by 2050 but wants to see concrete plans before signing up to the pledge begs the question: what has he been doing for the last four years?” he said.