Sunday, June 29, 2008

AGRICULTURE “OUT”: Wong

This week Minister for Climate Change Penny Wong revealed that agriculture will not be ‘covered’ by the Emissions Trading Scheme when it opens in 2010. "(Agriculture Minister) Tony Burke and I have had a number of discussions with the agriculture sector. This is a complex issue. And it will be covered in the Green Paper we'll be releasing shortly," she says. The major issue is measurement of Methane and Nitrous Oxide, says Minister Wong.

THIS DOES NOT MEANS SOIL CARBON CANNOT BE TRADED. In fact the Department of Climate Change stated recently in a stakeholder consultation paper* "offsets can only come from projects that reduce emissions that are outside the scheme."

The "only" raises questions. But they are being ironed out.

*EMISSIONS TRADING STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION AGENDA PAPER: OVERARCHING DESIGN PRINCIPLES - COVERAGE AND SCOPE FOR OFFSETS Canberra, 19 May 2008

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