How we are responding to climate change

The Australian Government is preparing for the impacts of climate change. It is investing in the science and research that provides the information and skills needed to help communities, industries and governments adapt to a changing climate.

The Australian Government’s comprehensive climate change strategy, the Clean Energy Future Plan will cut pollution and drive investment. It will help to ensure Australia can compete and remain prosperous in the future.
  
A carbon price will not apply to agricultural emissions. This means there will be no requirement for farmers to pay for emissions from livestock or fertiliser use. The $1.7 billion Land Sector Package is one of the four pillars of the plan. The Land Sector Package contains the following features:

• The Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) is a carbon offsets scheme to create economic rewards for land managers who reduce pollution or store carbon in the Landscape.
• A Biodiversity Fund is for projects to protect biodiverse carbon stores and secure environmental outcomes from carbon farming.
• An ongoing Carbon Farming Futures (CFF) program supporting research and development, extension and outreach and action on the ground. These activities support land managers to store carbon and reduce emissions. There will also be a Refundable Tax Offset for new conservation tillage equipment. The Carbon Farming Futures (CFF) program also includes methodology development.
• The Carbon Farming Skills program will support skills in land management. It will also ensure land managers have access to high quality advice and services when implementing the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI).
• The Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund will support Indigenous Australians to take full advantage of the Carbon Farming Initiative.
• Through the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) non-Kyoto Carbon Fund, the government will purchase non-Kyoto compliant CFI credits. These could include credits from soil carbon, and revegetation.
• The Regional Natural Resources Management Planning for Climate Change Fund has been initiated to assist regional NRM organisations to revise current NRM plans to reflect the impact of climate change and benefit of carbon farming.
• The Land Sector Carbon & Biodiversity Board has been established to provide advice to Government on implementation of the Land Sector Package announced as part of the Clean Energy Future Plan.

As part of the Land Sector Package, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) will deliver activities across the Filling the Research Gap, Action on the Ground and Extension and Outreach elements of the Carbon Farming Futures  (CFF) program.

Carbon Farming Futures will deliver $429 million over six years.  It will fund measures to help land managers benefit from carbon farming and unlock financial opportunities under the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI).

DAFF, in partnership with the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE), will implement components of the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI).

DAFF’s roles include:

• Jointly developing government methodologies with DCCEE and assisting stakeholders and industry groups to develop methodologies.
• Supporting the Australian Bureau of Statistics to undertake a survey of land and management practices across various production systems and farming regions, which will be used to underpin additionality tests.
• Supporting the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARES) to develop and administer a common practice test to assess additionality of practices.
• Administering the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) Communications program.
• Administering the Biochar Capacity Building program.

More information on DAFF’s climate change related activities is available from the following links:

• Adaptation
• Mitigation
• Research & Development
• Communication and Resources