Farmers question federal government’s net zero plans

Many farmers are disappointed with the federal government’s plan to reduce carbon emissions. This is why.

Key farming groups say “critical details” are missing from the federal government’s plan to reduce carbon emissions, and some argue more must be done to reduce emissions this decade.

According to the carbon emissions reduction plan released by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday, the agricultural sector is expected to reduce its emissions by 29 and 36 per cent on 2005 levels by 2050.

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The 129-page plan provides few details on how the savings will be achieved, noting “land-based solutions” including “forests and soil carbon” and “other emerging technologies” will lead to emissions reductions.

The plan highlights livestock feed supplements as an emerging technology that will contribute to the target.

National Farmers Federation president Fiona Simson.

National Farmers Federation president Fiona Simson said the plan confirmed agricultural lands hold the key to delivering on national targets, but “critical details” still needed to be negotiated within the coalition.

The plan “recognises the tremendous opportunity that exists to use agricultural land as a carbon sink”, she said.

“It’s time for Government to sit down with our industry and get stuck into the detail of how we deliver on this together, and make sure it stacks up for farmers,” Ms Simson said.

Farmers for Climate Action CEO Fiona Davis hit out at the government’s national 2030 emissions reduction target of 30 to 35 per cent, saying more needed to be done to reduce emissions in the next decade.

“Let’s remember we can’t kick the can down the road and draw down emissions on the eve of 2050. We need to urgently make deep emissions cuts before 2030. This is the most important decade to protect farming families,” she said.

Dr Davis said farmers welcomed the government’s plan to review the economic impacts of emissions reductions on regional and rural communities every five years, but said it was “important these reviews also take into account the economic impacts of climate change itself.”

Farmers needed a stable climate to continue to produce the food and fibre on which Australia and the world relies, she said.