Carbon Farming Initiative open for business

The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus QC and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig welcomed (8 December 2011) the launch of the Carbon Farming Initiative Administrator - providing exciting opportunities for farmers, landholders and landfill operators to participate in carbon markets.

The Carbon Farming Initiative is a key component of the Gillard Government’s Clean Energy Future plan and enables farmers, landowners, local government and a range of other stakeholders to reduce carbon pollution while generating extra revenue.

“With the key regulations now in place, the Carbon Farming Initiative will provide new economic opportunities across rural Australia, better prepares landholders for the impacts of climate change and supports productivity and innovation,” Combet said.

Dreyfus said the government had consulted broadly with industry, landholders and farmers in the development of the Carbon Farming Initiative and the methodologies offset projects must use.

The government has taken industry views into account in making regulations for:

• the Australian National Registry of Emission Units which will support both the Carbon Farming Initiative and the carbon pricing mechanism;
• an initial list of activities which will be eligible under the CFI once technical methodologies are developed;
• the protections against adverse impacts on water resources, biodiversity and local communities; and
• application requirements to open registry accounts and become a recognised offset entity.

“Opportunities under the Carbon Farming Initiative methodologies include the recently released reduced methane emissions from piggeries methodology, which provides guidance for piggery operators in Australia to measure and report abatement from the collection and combustion of methane,” Dreyfus said.

“Of particular interest to local government, other landfill operators and clean energy businesses is the finalised methodology for the capture and combustion of landfill gas from legacy waste.” Dreyfus also highlighted the opportunities the Carbon Farming Initiative will hold for Indigenous landholders once approved.

“Using the savanna burning methodology, Indigenous landholders and farmers in northern Australia will be able to change their fire management practices and reduce emissions of methane and nitrous oxide - potent greenhouse gases contributing to carbon pollution.”

In addition, landholders may also benefit from the methodology for revegetation of land, which is currently being finalised. Projects under this methodology will establish forests through planting and seeding of native species on cleared or partially cleared land.

The Gillard Government is continuing to support the development of other methodologies that will have application to a range of agricultural industries and is working closely with industry representatives on the development of these methodologies such as soil carbon, reduced methane emissions from livestock and reduced fertiliser usage.

“The Carbon Farming Initiative is an opportunity to recognise the role that farmers play in carbon abatement activities and reward them for their efforts,” Ludwig said.

Along with the approved methodologies, the Carbon Farming Initiative regulations are now available online at www.climatechange.gov.au/cfi. The regulations provide information on the requirements and obligations associated with joining and managing a project under the initiative.

A range of support is also available for potential participants in the Carbon Farming Initiative.  Interested parties can find out more by contacting the Regional Landcare Facilitators in their region.

Queries on the Carbon Farming Initiative can also be directed by phone to 1800 057 590 or email: cfi@climatechange.gov.au.