tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226834382024-03-14T01:05:48.210+11:00Carbon Coalition Against Global WarmingThere is only one way to stall Global Warming during the 20+ years it will take to shift to renewable energy: use the plants, grasses and trees growing in the 5 billion hectares of farmland soil to extract CO2 from the air by photosynthesis. Help farmers make the change to Carbon Farming: Soil Carbon Credits Now!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger905125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-14762079367796631472014-09-23T09:17:00.002+10:002014-09-23T09:17:46.377+10:00Delivering on the promise of soil carbon credits[This is a test. Just emerging from a fog. What did I mist? Back to work. Carbon Farmers of Australia is committed to making the first soil carbon methodology determination work in the field. The following is a part of that campaign.]<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 24pt;">Pre-register now for Australian Carbon Credits program. FREE.</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">No Obligation. Avoid Additionality Trap. Keep your options open.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">To be eligible to earn Australian Carbon Credit Units under the Emissions Reduction Fund, a project must </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">not have begun to be implemented before it has been registered. (This is called the Newness Requirement.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">But many carbon farming activities that are ready to start cannot be registered immediately for many reasons, eg. awaiting an approved methodology.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">You now have a way out of this dilemma: the Notice of Intent (NOI) to Participate in the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF). A NOI may be given to the Clean Energy Regulator to signal your intent to participate in the ERF. The project owner will have until 1 July 2015 to apply for registration of the projects for which notice has been given.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">The notification must include:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">• the name and location of the project, and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">• a project description.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">The Clean Energy Regulator will treat the project as new provided that the project begins after the date of notification.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">Examples of actions that may indicate a project has started.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">The ERF Bill includes a list of examples of actions that may be taken as evidence that the project has commenced, including:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">making a final investment decision in relation to the project<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">acquiring or leasing a tangible asset (other than land) that is for use wholly or mainly for the purposes of the project<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">commencing construction work for the purposes of the project<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">in the case of a sequestration offsets project<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">preparing soil for seeding or planting that is for the purposes of the project<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">seeding, planting or fertilising plants that are for the purposes of the project<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">installing an irrigation or drainage system for the purposes of the project.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">A Notice of Intent would allow the project to proceed as if registered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">Examples of actions that <u>do not</u> indicate a project has started.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">The ERF Bill includes a list of examples of action that do not indicate a project has commenced, including:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">conducting a feasibility study for the project<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">planning or designing the project<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">obtaining regulatory approvals for the project<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">obtaining consents relating to the project<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">obtaining advice relating to the project<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">conducting negotiations relating to the project<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">sampling to establish a baseline for the project<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">an activity specified in the legislative rules<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">A Notice of Intent would allow the project to proceed as if registered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Exemptions:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">The Notice of Intent is not to be used for projects that are covered under a Carbon Farming Initiative methodology determination. Other transitional arrangements will apply to existing Carbon Farming Initiative projects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="" name="Emissions-reduction-projects-must-be-new"></a><a href="" name="Emissions-reduction-projects-must-not-be"></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Emissions reduction projects cannot be mandatory under a Commonwealth, state or territory law, unless the method covering the project specifies otherwise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Projects that cover activities also carried out under existing Commonwealth, state or territory government program or schemes may be excluded from participating in the Emissions Reduction Fund.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact the <a href="http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/Emissions-Reduction-Fund/Want-to-participate-in-the-Emissions-Reduction-Fund/Notice-of-Intent/Pages/default.aspx">Clean Energy Regulator. Click here.</a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">FOR ASSISTANCE IN PREPARING AN APPLICATION: Contact <a href="http://www.carbonfarmersofaustralia.com.au/">Carbon Farmers of Australia,click here</a> or call 02 6374 0329</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-85888646218987172042014-09-22T10:25:00.001+10:002014-09-22T10:25:19.074+10:00Testing TestingThis is a test. Just emerging from a fog. What did I mist?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-19783681560960489382014-06-26T11:34:00.000+10:002014-06-26T11:34:05.037+10:00Carbon Legislation, Clive Palmer and Chaos Theory<strong>Australia's climate change laws are being changed.. The Government does not have control of the Upper House. So a small group of senators will decide what Australia's response to climate change. Their leader, billionaire miner <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/clive-palmer-places-conditions-on-support-for-carbon-tax-repeal-20140625-3atav.html">Clive Palmer</a> made a promise when he
appeared with Al Gore on our tv screens last night. He said he would vote for an Emissions
Trading Scheme when Australia’s trading partners take national action of the
same type. How long must we wait for that to happen? Not long…</strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></strong>
<strong><span style="font-family: Times;">On a Government webpage headed
<a href="http://www.climatechange.gov.au/international/actions/countries-acting-now">“Countries acting now”</a> we can read the following: “</span></strong>Australia's
top five trading partners–China, Japan, the United States (US), the Republic of
Korea and Singapore–and another eight of our top twenty trading partners (New
Zealand, the UK, Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and
Canada) have implemented or are piloting carbon trading or taxation schemes at
national, state or the city level. Many countries have renewable energy
targets, including fifteen of Australia's top twenty trading partners. Energy
performance standards for appliances, buildings and industrial plants, as well
as incentives for the use and development of low emission products and
technologies are now widespread.”<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
Clive Palmer fits the definition of "Chaos Theory in Lawmaking" - which means that, for all the strategy and planning and consultation that takes place, their is no logic to the process and no guarantee that what comes out the end of the process will resemble anything like the intention of the policy makers or anyone engaged in that process. Because it is a human process. Bismark is reported to have said that lawmaking is like sausage making. Love of the law or love of sausages can be soured instantly if one sees how they are made.<br />
<br />
Clive Palmer could be the best thing that has happened. He said Al Gore changing his mind on Emissions Trading Systems. There's more change coming... Hold onto your hats.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-82835323887255890212014-06-11T02:44:00.002+10:002014-06-11T11:57:44.158+10:00Australia's target could triple in 2 years!<span style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What happens to the demand for carbon credits under the Emissions Reduction Fund if our target is tripled to 15% in 2016 (two years away)? It could happen. Read on...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While Australia's political leadership is confused about the direction the rest of the world is taking on Global Warming, the rest of
the world is getting serious about it. ''There is no sign - no sign - that trading schemes are increasingly being adopted. If anything trading schemes are being discarded, not adopted,'' said PM Tony Abbott while in Canada recently. In fact, t<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #3f3f3f;">he World Bank reports that eight new carbon markets opened in 2013: </span>California Cap-and-Trade Program, Quebec Cap-and-Trade System, Kazakhstan Emissions Trading Scheme, and five Chinese pilot emissions trading schemes </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangdong, and Tianjin). And n</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ew carbon taxes were introduced in Mexico and France </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this past year. But the big news is that t</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he three biggest emitters
of greenhouse gases last week made game-changing moves on climate. China – Emitter
No. 1 – announced it will set an absolute cap on its emissions from 2016. Setting
an absolute cap instead of pegging them to the level of economic growth means
they will be more tightly regulated, reports Reuters. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">China is now the second largest carbon market in the
world. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">America – Emitter No. 2 - the EPA
announced a national standard to cut carbon emissions from coal fired power plants.
US states can join cap-and-trade programs, building on the 10 states with
market-based mechanisms, or start their own. In India – Emitter No. 3 - the people just elected as Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, who pioneered incentives for large-scale solar power. He</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">wants to use solar technology to supply electricity to 400
million people in India who do not have power.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These events make a new global climate treaty
in Paris in December 2015 more likely. This will set dominoes falling in Australia
which has set itself higher targets should the rest of the world fall into line,
which now seems likely. <span lang="EN-US" style="color: #3f3f3f;">We have
already promised to reduce emissions by 5% of 2000 levels by 2020.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The target increases to 15% if there is an
international agreement where developing economies commit to reduce emissions
and advanced economies take on commitments like Australia’s. China and India
are classified as ‘developing economies’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The target increases to 25% if there is comprehensive global action
capable of stabilizing CO2 levels at 450ppm or lower. </span></span><br />
<div class="Pa4" style="margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">At
the same time, public opinion is swinging behind action on Climate Change as people are noticing Nature acting scarily like the scientific
predictions that the denialists had rubbished. The Bureau of Meteorology
reports that Australia’s climate has warmed by 0.9°C since 1910, and the
frequency of extreme weather has changed, with more extreme heat and fewer cool
extremes. Extreme fire weather has increased, and the fire season has
lengthened, across large parts of Australia since the 1970s. </span><span class="st">Sydney
broke its previous records for warmth in </span><em>May</em><span class="st">, with maximums almost 4
degrees above average. </span>Sydney
Observatory Hill had its warmest May on record. The city experienced 19
consecutive days above 22C, and four consecutive days above 25C. Only one May
day had a top temperature below 20C. Sydney Airport recorded it’s warmest
autumn since 1958 with 21 consecutive days above 20C and seven days in a row
reached at least 25C.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Public attitudes re shifting rapidly; the 2014 Lowy Institute
Report revealed that 45% of Australians see global warming as a ‘serious and
pressing problem’, up five points and the second consecutive increase since 2012. A significant majority (63%) say that the government
‘should be taking a leadership role on reducing emissions’. Only 28% believe
‘it should wait for an international consensus before acting’. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">In ancient times, King Canute had a his throne placed on a beach in England in front of the advancing </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">tide and</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> commanded the sea to retreat - to demonstrate to his followers that even he could not defy</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> Nature. There's a lesson in that somewhere.</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-63113523331230646832014-06-05T14:08:00.002+10:002014-06-05T14:08:43.287+10:00The Carbon Coalition, Carbon Farmers of Australia and the Carbon Farming & Trading Association<div class="WordSection1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bJYocvpB04I/U4_lZp5sofI/AAAAAAAADrA/Sbhq4i9SlA8/s1600/New+CFA+Logo+Med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bJYocvpB04I/U4_lZp5sofI/AAAAAAAADrA/Sbhq4i9SlA8/s1600/New+CFA+Logo+Med.jpg" height="141" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; text-align: justify;">Since 2006, the Carbon Coalition and Carbon Farmers of Australia, have
been a de facto industry body for those interested in the multiple benefits of
soil carbon. We have staged the National Annual Carbon Farming Conference and
Expo and the Carbon Cocky Awards 7 times, and pioneered education in the field,
with countless seminars and workshops (Carbon Farming 101 and Advanced Carbon
Farming & Trading). Several editions of the Carbon Farming Handbook have
been published. CSIRO’s Dr Jeff Baldock said we were instrumental in the $24m
Soil Carbon Research Program funding: “You deserve a pat on the back.” Minister
Greg Hunt said, “There would be no Carbon Farming Initiative were it not for
the efforts of Carbon Farmers of Australia.”</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> The Association has been
very active in the Carbon Farming Initiative since its inception. It has been a
strong voice for farmers in the consultation process associated with the
passing into law of the Carbon Farming Initiative (Carbon Credits) Act 2011 and
has since been involved in commenting on regulations. Since the Act was passed,
the Association has provided a focus for the emerging industry and built
bridges between stakeholder groups, including farmers, scientists, brokers,
advisers, and policy makers.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RCacI8lCaus/U4_s6Ke9upI/AAAAAAAADrQ/SmQNUYVBkrA/s1600/CFTA+LOGO+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RCacI8lCaus/U4_s6Ke9upI/AAAAAAAADrQ/SmQNUYVBkrA/s1600/CFTA+LOGO+1.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> We have engaged with the
CFI at every level so we can give first hand advice to members:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">• Developing a CFI methodology for sequestering carbon in soil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">• Awarded an Australian Financial Services Licence (to be able to
give advice about Australian Carbon Credit Units)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">• Achieved Recognised Offsets Entity (ROE) status (qualified to
manage a CFI project)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">• Awarded an ANREU account – Australian National Register of
Emissions Units – a facility for receiving CFI credits<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">• Applied for Eligible Offsets Project with a small native species
planting (to learn the process of executing a CFI Methodology.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">• Assisted a business to achieve carbon neutral status, to help
create a market for soil carbon offsets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">• Assisting a farmer investigate a Methodology to enable users of
a ‘4<sup>th</sup> Generation” biochar-based natural fertiliser to earn offset
credits for soil carbon sequestration and reduced nitrous oxide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> We have been getting to
know marketplace operators we can trust to provide trading and related services
to members, including lawyers, brokers, project originators, advisors and accountants.
We are members of the Carbon Market Institute and it’s Methodology Project
Developers Group.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> We are termed ‘key
stakeholders’ by the then Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency,
the now Department of the Environment, and submit contributions to relevant
consultation papers. (We meet with officials of the Department at least 4 times
a year.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> We respond to a constant
stream of requests for information, by email and telephone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> We have a schedule of
improve-ments to the CFI that we are addressing. In the first instance, we are
lobbying the relevant federal politicians for a flexible approach to the 100
Years Rule. We see this as the make or break issue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> We are aware that the
‘official’ version of the ‘potential’ of soil carbon sequestration (always much
smaller than the farmer reality) has gained prominence in the debate, due to a
continual stream of mistaken reports in the press.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> We have identified a list
of “high performance” soil carbon managers who have demonstrated a potential
well beyond the mean identified by CSIRO, by an order of 10. These ‘outliers’ –
routinely discarded and rightly so in most studies, but not in this case - present a challenge for the scientists and
policy makers. If these outliers can do it, it can be done. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"> Meanwhile we are engaged as members of the
Soil Carbon Reference Group, giving advice to the Department as it completes
the Soil Carbon Methodology. We also serve on the Biochar Reference Group.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Shortly the Bill to establish the new CFI – the Emissions Reduction Fund
– will enter the arena of Parliament. We will be lobbying to address the access
issues (100 Years, a barrier to farmer involvement) and the farmgate price (an
incentive).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We aim to see soil carbon and other farm-based
offsets traded safely and ethically, and growers paid fairly for the carbon
they “grow”. The Association also includes in its vision offsets arising from
all other forms of on-farm carbon sequestration as well as all forms of
agricultural emissions reduction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><a href="http://www.carbonfarmersofaustralia.com.au/"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">www.carbonfarmersofaustralia.com.au</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Call Louisa on 02 6374 0329<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-28613898432760246842014-06-05T12:06:00.000+10:002014-06-05T12:06:00.832+10:00<div class="ShortT">
<a href="" name="_Toc387235434"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Loopholes and escape hatches:
Government committed to CFI success<o:p></o:p></span></a></div>
<div class="ShortT">
<br /></div>
<div class="ShortT">
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Amendment Bill 2014<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ShortT">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc387235434;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The legislation
for the Government’s new Direct Action Carbon Farming Initiative gives the
Minister Greg Hunt unprecedented power to intervene in case his program needs
tweaking. It appears that the program’s builders want as much wriggle room as
possible to make this program work. Eg., It gives the Minister the power to make
‘legislative rules’ (308) which have the force of law. These ‘rules’ can
prescribe anything that meets the aims of the Act. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc387235434;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc387235434;">The draft legislation is full of loopholes and escape
hatches for maximum flexibility. For instance there is some concern about the
‘reverse auction’ system – with the Government as the sole buyer. The draft
legislation not only allows for ‘a tender process’ but also ‘any other
process’. (Division 3, 20F) Could ‘any other process’ include ‘banding’(similar
projects compete against each other for funding). Banding on the basis of
methodology groups or technology applications would level the playing field on
costs.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc387235434;">The Government’s resolve to get a workable
system is starkly displayed in this next example: Under the old Act a
‘methodology determination’ (the recipe for an activity, essential for carbon
credits to be created) had to ‘comply’ with the ‘offsets integrity standards’
(eg. permanence, additionality, etc.). But the new Act requires only that it
must be made ‘having regard to’ these standards. (23 Section 4) Is this just in
case the integrity bar is set so high that there is no interest on the supply
side?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="subsection" style="margin-left: 0cm; tab-stops: 36.0pt; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc387235434;">The vehicle for most ministerial massaging of the trading system is the
‘methodology determination’. </span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc387235434;">The Minister is solely responsible for making or
varying methodology determinations (recipes for abatement). When doing so, the
draft Act says that he must ‘have regard to’ advice from an expert panel, the
offsets integrity standards, and ‘certain other matters.’ (198 Section
105) </span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc387235434;">This could mean anything. It is clear that these ‘other matters’ are
not certain at this time. In another place ‘other matters’ is described as
‘such other matters (if any) as the Minister considers relevant’. (208
Subsection 114(2) Again, the Minister is given this power when deciding whether
to vary a methodology determination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc387235434;">The draft legislation spells
out the ‘crediting period’ for eligible offsets projects (15<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>years for sequestration projects and 7 years
for emissions avoidance projects). But while it lays down the law, it creates a
large loophole in the form of a methodology determination which ‘may specify a
different crediting period.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc387235434;"><span lang="EN-US">Minister Hunt even has it
within his power to eliminate the barrier many land managers see in the 100
Year permanence standard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Sequestration,
or capture and hold projects, must be secured for 100 years.)</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc387235434;"><span lang="EN-US"> Under
existing Carbon Farming Initiative rules, a risk buffer of 5% is applied to
such projects, meaning that for every 100 tonnes of carbon stored by a project,
95 Australian Carbon Credit Units are issued. This buffer means that a farmer
does not have to replace credits if carbon stores are lost because of natural
events such as a bushfire. </span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc387235434;"><span lang="EN-US">Extending the
CFI’s proposed 5% Risk of Reversal Buffer to 20% could remove the major barrier
seen in a 100-year</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc387235434;"><span lang="EN-US"> permanence option</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc387235434;"><span lang="EN-US">. The buffer units would be ‘banked’ in a ‘mutual
society’-like account that can spread the risk across multiple farm businesses,
multiple industries and multiple climate zones. The banked tonnes underwrite
the primary tonnes against loss for any reason, removing the farmer’s liability
to make good any losses. As the risk reduces with the passing of the years, a percentage
of the value of the banked tonnes could be paid out in 5-year increments until
the 100<sup>th</sup> year. The Minister can vary the permanence period discount
number if ‘another percentage is specified in the legislative rules in relation
to a particular kind of project’. (89 Subsection 16(2)).</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc387235434;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc387235434;"><span lang="EN-US">In an attempt to make sequestration projects more
attractive, the Government has included a 25-year permanence option in the
Emissions Reduction Fund. The number of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) issued
for these projects will be discounted by 20% relative to 100-year projects.
This discount reflects the potential cost to Government of replacing carbon
stores if 25-year projects are discontinued. There is no provision for the
‘banking’ of the ACCUs or the return of units over time. And the reduction of
the size of the barrier it represents in the farmer’s mind is not as effective
as its disappearance altogether. There is only one man can do it: the Minister.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc387235434;">With so much of his
political reputation riding on the success of Direct Action, it is little
wonder Minister Hunt has written into the script a leading role for himself in
this drama.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-89491499002133548702014-05-20T14:07:00.000+10:002014-05-20T14:07:01.548+10:00Banks’ blinkers block farmers’ carbon<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">Bankers and rural property agents have found that carbon farming is too hard to understand, so they have decided to opt out of the Carbon Farming Initiative. Rabobank </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">is blocking a 5,000ha native vegetation carbon sink scheme on Cate and Mark Stuart’s Charleville cattle station, Mount Morris. The 20,000ha property has been seized over a $2+million debt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">The Stuarts say that the project is eligible for verified credits under the CFI, with income of $400,000 per third year.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">Rabobank says the problem with carbon farming is that it ties up farmland for too long, 100 years under government rules. The bank sees the stored carbon in mulga reserves as a liability if the property was to be sold in the future. It does not see the carbon as an asset. “Because they cannot put a value on the changed land management, property agents and bankers use a $0 per hectare value default,” says Michael Kiely, of Carbon Farmers of Australia. “We had the same experience when we applied to install 50 metre wide tree corridors,” he says. “Even though we had permission graze the areas, the bank admitted that the uncertainty causing the risk was their ignorance of carbon farming and how to value it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">But Queensland graziers Shane and Shan Joyce on “Dukes Plain”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">, south of Theodore,</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;"> can put a value on it.. Dukes Plain is a 7900 hectare sub-tropical property of</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">which 3000 hectares is used as grazing land for beef</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;"> cattle. Areas of natural revegetation with 40% canopy </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">cover are yielding nearly 40% greater return than those</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">areas that were completely cleared. T</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">rees are providing</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">protection to the pastures and soils, allowing for much better growth and increased fodder for the cattle. Water loss through evaporation is better controlled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">The use of trees in agricultural systems can boost nutrient cycling and have positive effects on chemical and physical condition of soils. Trees add organic matter to the soil, in the form of roots or litterfall, or as root exudates in the rhizosphere.</span><a href="applewebdata://A5034290-0FFC-4EC1-B55F-15F6195BB840#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;" title=""><span style="font-size: 16pt;">[1]</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;"> These additions are important to a vast range of organisms involved in soil biological activity and have effects on soil nutrients and fertility, according to scientists.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">“Bankers and brokers and lawyers and accountants in the regions have got to come to grips with the science and practice of carbon farming,” says Carbon Farmers of Australia‘s Michael Kiely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">To build awareness of the opportunities in the services that will be needed from 1 July 2014, CFA is running </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">The 1<sup>st</sup> One Million Tonnes is a landscape carbon removal challenge to extract the first million tonnes of <i>legacy load CO2</i> under the Direct Action CFI Emissions Reduction Fund. It </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">is a Milestone set to kick-start Australia’s journey towards its target to</span><span class="st"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;"> reduce its emissions by </span></span><em><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">5</span></em><span class="st"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;"> per cent compared with </span></span><em><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">2000</span></em><span class="st"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;"> levels by </span></span><em><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">2020…<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18pt;">What is the Legacy Load?<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16pt;">The cause of the extreme weather events we endure is NOT the Greenhouse Gases everyone is arguing about as they try to curb future emissions. The gases doing all the damage are already in the atmosphere, some released more than 100 years ago. It is past emissions – your grandfather’s and his father’s emissions – that are causing extreme weather.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="applewebdata://A5034290-0FFC-4EC1-B55F-15F6195BB840#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;">Nair, P.K.R., Nair, V.D., Kumar, B.M. & Showalter, J.M. (2010). Carbon sequestration in agroforestry systems. Advances in Agronomy, 108: 237 – 307. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-16244954992735569632014-05-19T08:42:00.001+10:002014-05-19T08:42:10.697+10:00Submissions invited on Emissions Reduction Fund draft legislation.<blockquote style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;" type="cite">
<div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;">
<blockquote type="cite">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-size: inherit;"><div lang="EN-AU" link="blue" vlink="purple">
<div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1;">
<div style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
The Australian Government is calling for public submissions on the draft Emissions Reduction Fund legislation. The consultation period will be open until 23 May 2014.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
Submissions should be sent to <a href="mailto:emissions-reduction-submissions@environment.gov.au" style="color: blue;">emissions-reduction-submissions@environment.gov.au</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
For more information please visit <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/emissions-reduction-fund" style="color: blue;">www.environment.gov.au/emissions-reduction-fund</a> or call 1800 852 974.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
The Emissions Reduction Fund exposure draft legislation is available at <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/emissions-reduction-fund" style="color: blue;">www.environment.gov.au/emissions-reduction-fund</a>.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-7840156602052347882014-05-19T08:40:00.000+10:002014-05-19T08:40:01.989+10:00ERF’s $2.5bn survives Joe Hockey’s Razor Attack<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Calibri;">In the Federal Budget the Government
confirmed $2.55 billion funding for the Emissions Reduction Fund. A lag in
entering into contracts, delivery of abatement and payments will mean the
process is slower than anticipated. A total of $1.1bn is to be paid in the
first four years. The $2.55 billion will be paid out over ten years. Market
analyst Reputex forecasts “</span><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Calibri;">scarcity of
ACCUs in the first half of FY15</span><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Calibri;"> likely to be particularly acute due to
the requirement for the government to develop methods and participants to
register projects for new abatement activities.” The </span><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Calibri;">scarcity of bidders will mean funding is unlikely to be exhausted </span><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Calibri;">in
the early years, leaving a large amount of capital available for small and
large bidders. “Low supply and </span><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Calibri;">low
competition for funds may provide an opportunity</span><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Calibri;"> for early movers to
secure higher priced contracts while participation in the ERF is low.” “Current
CFI participants - the only current ACCU generators - are expected to take a
high bid approach in the ERF's initial rounds . ”This is expected to inflate
ERF prices in early auction rounds, before prices fall in line with growing
supply and competition for funds.” </span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Calibri;">Aggregate! </span><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Calibri;">Aggregate! </span><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Calibri;">Aggregate!</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Government wants to streamline the
ERF’s processes. It’s reverse auction system will deal in minimum bids of 2000
tonnes CO2-e. The Government believes that few farmers could produce such
volumes via soil carbon. But 2000 tonnes of CO2-e extracted from the atmosphere
is the equivalent of 550 tonnes carbon in the soil. If we want to be
ultra-conservative, we could accept the CSIRO’s upper estimate of 500kg of carbon
sequestered per hectare per year.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=22683438#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=22683438#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=22683438#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=22683438#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
That figure of 500kg translates into 2 tonnes of CO2-e (ie. C x 3.67 = CO2-e). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So an individual farmer could put together a
bid with 1,000ha. But 72% of Australian farms are smaller than 500ha. This
means most farmers will have to join with others to go the market, by having
their offering aggregated or pooled. Aggregators will soon be thick on the
ground: NRM groups, farmers groups, trading groups, brokers, suppliers of
products and services with client bases, etc. What should you look for in an
aggregator? No.1: Knowledge. Have they done any training? (Those who have attended
Carbon Farmers of Australia 2-day Workshop have a grounding. Few, if any,
seminars conducted (with ‘carbon farming’ in the title) have included any
information about carbon markets. 2. Expertise: Have they been part of the
Government’s consultation process? Do they have a track record in the field?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3. Attitude: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do they have a healthy attitude towards
market-based solutions to funding delivery of environmental and climate
services? 4. Experience: Do they have any clients trading offset units? Have
they been engaged for some time in the processes that have led to the market or
have they just arrived? 5. Services offered: What services can you access
through them? Baseline measurement? Insurance? Auditing? Pool management?
Access to voluntary markets? Choose wisely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">PS, Another way to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>assemble 2000 tonnes could be bundling
different methodologies for the same property., according to the Department.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">PPS, Individual enterprises that can
supply 200,000 tonnes can negotiate their own contract timings and conditions,
a recognition of the long leadtimes for bespoke projects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 116%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 2.0cm; margin-top: 8.8pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #231f20; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; line-height: 116%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>Common
Sense Cuts Costs<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 116%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 2.0cm; margin-top: 8.8pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #231f20; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; line-height: 116%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
cost of measurement of soil contributes a great deal to the impression that the
economics of soil carbon is all out of whack. Jeff Baldock has managed to bring
the cost down, but not far enough. A major component of the overall cost is the
calculation of bulk density. This could be simplified by using a default figure
of 1.0. I have spoken to senior scientists who believe that this would more
than meet the needs for a discount to balance the risk attached to a default.
It could be focused on certain soil types to further reduce the risk, or clay
vs sandy soils.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 116%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 2.0cm; margin-top: 8.8pt;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>Co-benefits
no benefit<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 2.0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 2.0cm;">
<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">One
of the Minister’s criteria for including certain units in an auction is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Whether
the activity could <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">have</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">adverse</span> social, <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">environmental</span> or economic impacts.”</i> While we agree with
assigning a negative value for the ‘side effects’ of an activity, we also
believe that there should be some recognition of the positive co-benefits of
soil carbon-based units. And taking account of this value in the unit price in
the auction system. The budget for the Department of Agriculture’s program that
aims to promote sustainable farming could be assigned to be spent as a
fixed-price augmentation of the price secured by soil carbon projects. Wherever
it comes from, we need to ring the bell for co-benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 116%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 2.0cm; margin-top: 8.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 116%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 2.0cm; margin-top: 8.8pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #231f20; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 116%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Make Good No Good?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 116%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 2.0cm; margin-top: 8.8pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #231f20; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 116%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Some
business <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">groups</span> saw make-good <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">provisions</span> as a <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">disincentive</span> to participation, others <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">were</span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.95pt;"> </span>of the view that
make-good <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">provisions</span> would support
the underlying <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">objective</span> of the <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Emissions</span><span style="letter-spacing: 2.05pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Reduction</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Fund.”</span></i><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> Surely one of the “underlying objectives” of the ERF is participation.
If no proponents submit units for sale, the program has failed and all
investment in it has been lost. The Identification of disincentives</span> to
participation should be done urgently and addressed immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 116%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 2.0cm; margin-top: 8.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>A question of credibility<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">At the White Paper Consultation gathering in
Sydney on 14<sup>th</sup> May we were able to put the following “make or break”
question to senior departmental officers.. The background to the question is
summed up in these 4 points: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. The Reverse Auction works when a group of sellers
bid a price to the buyer who chooses<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(usually) the lowest price. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2.The Emissions Reduction Fund reverse
auction system is managed by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. The sellers bid for contracts to deliver
emissions avoided or sequestered by a specified date in the future. (Usually 5
years.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. The CER can refuse to allow a bid to be
made if it decides, among other things, that the estimates of the amount of
carbon that will be captured are not “credible”. That is, the rate of increase cannot
be referenced in ‘sound science’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 116%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 2.0cm; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 116%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The question: “What information will
the Clean Energy Regulator rely upon to decide whether the estimates of soil
carbon are credible or not when there is controversy about the data indicating
the potential of innovative methods to sequester carbon. Dr Jeff Baldock, who
directed the $24m Soil Carbon Research Program- the latest research - described
it as a ‘single point in time’ study. As such it cannot be used to make
judgements about changes in carbon stocks. As well, it did not address many of
the latest innovations in land management. The CSIRO told the recent Senate Inquiry
into the ERF that soil carbon’s contribution to meeting the Government’s target
will be ‘small’ and ‘modest’. The maximum amount which could be captured under
pasture is 0.5 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year, according to scientific
reports.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Data gathered on the farms of
best practice carbon farmers has detected increases of more than 2 tonnes/ha/yr.
Such data is suspect among scientists and often discarded. Such data described
as ‘outliers’, rare data points that skew the findings away from the average.
But, while this is a legitimate approach when the average is the answer sought,
when seeking the potential (or highest possible level achieved) the ‘outlier’
is the answer. Unable to be found on the radar of accepted data, carbon farmers
were looking forward to demonstrating the capability to capture and store
carbon in soils at rates far higher than ‘small and modest’. But a decision by
the CER that a bid lacks credibility because it proposes to increase carbon
levels at rates that are not based on ‘sound science’ could be problematic. We
recommend that proponents be permitted to take the risk of bidding higher rates
of sequestration and manage the situation via “Risk of Reversal” arrangements
in the contract.<span style="color: #231f20; letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 116%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 2.0cm; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #231f20; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; line-height: 116%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
ERF White Paper gives the CER flexibility to manage risk via the contract: “Projects
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #231f20; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 116%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">will be<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>subject to<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>a range<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">
</span>of uncertainties<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>that could<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>affect the<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>timing and<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>amount of<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>emissions<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">reductions</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">delivered.</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Many</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">are</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">beyond</span> a <span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;">company’s</span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">reasonable</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">control</span> and will be set out in the contract. <span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;">For</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>example,<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">
project </span>could be<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>affected<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> by </span>natural <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">events </span>such<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>floods or<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">fir</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">es. </span>The<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">
</span>contract<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>will<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>enable<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">
</span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>Clean<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Energy</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Regulator
</span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>business<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>vary<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>quantity<span style="letter-spacing: 1.15pt;">
</span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>schedule for<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>delivery of emissions<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> reductions</span> if the<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> project</span> or<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> measured</span>
emissions <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">are </span>affected <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">by</span> these<span style="letter-spacing: 2.15pt;">
</span>specified<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> circumstances.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 116%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 2.0cm; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #231f20; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; line-height: 116%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">PS.
We are investigating the possibility of selling the carbon in excess of that
which is contracted in the ERF by packaging it for sale on voluntary markets,
here and overseas.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 116%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 116%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 2.0cm; margin-top: 8.8pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #231f20; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; line-height: 116%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>“Boo!”
It’s the 100 Year-old boogie-man.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 116%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 2.0cm; margin-top: 8.8pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #231f20; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; line-height: 116%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
truth about the 100 Year Rule has a hard job getting through to farmers. Even
25 years is not seen as a concession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
break through the rusted-on reputation , the Government must drop a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>large stone in the pool, ie. do something
highly visible to remove the fear of a long contract: extend </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #231f20; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 116%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">the<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>‘risk of <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">reversal’ </span>buffer that <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">currently</span><span style="letter-spacing: 2.05pt;"> </span>operates under the Carbon <span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">Farming</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Initiative
far enough to cover the proponent completely. The message must be as simple as
that used by the Government to “Axe the Tax”. The alternative – relying on
private enterprise to take on the responsibility – fails to take account of one
very material difference between a private vs a government regulatory solution:
The market is saturated with a high level of brand awareness of the
characteristic association between “Soil Carbon” and “100 Years. This will not
fix itself. The government can fix it by a system whereby every transaction is
‘taxed’ an amount which can cover the farmer’s liability for the entire 100
Year period. The amount taxed can thereafter be returned in increments to the
farmer as time passes and the risks are reduced. The Government can sell the
system to private enterprise once it has been established and completed its job
of removing the barrier to involvement that 100 Years represents.</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=22683438#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></i></span></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“In
Australia, research has demonstrated that pasture improvement (such as sown
pasture or fertiliser application) can lead to significant increases in SOC
sequestration (500 kg C/ha/yr, Gifford <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">et
al. </span>1992*) compared to unimproved pasture. Long term trials in Australia
have shown that this rate of SOC increase can be maintained for at least 40
years as a result of pasture improvement (Russell and Williams, 1960).”</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=22683438#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></i></span></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Gifford, RM,
Cheney, NP, Noble, JC, Russel, JS, Wellingtpon, AB and Zammit, C 26 (1992),
“Australian land use, primary production of vegetation and carbon pools in
relation to atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration”, in Gifford and Barson
MM, Australia’s renewable resources, sustainability and global change, pp. 151
– 188, Bureaux of Rural Resources, Bureaus CSIRO, Australia<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=22683438#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></i></span></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Russell, JS
and Williams, CH (1982). Biochemical interactions of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur
and phosphorus in Australian agroecosystems. In: Galbally, IE and Freney, JR
(eds) “The Cycling of Carbon, Nitrogen, Sulfur and Phosphorus in Terrestrial
and Aquatic Ecosystems”. Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, September
2006, Hunter Water Corporation</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=22683438#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></i></span></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">K
Y Chan, A Cowie, G Kelly, Bhupinderpal Singh, P Slavich</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">, </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Scoping Paper: Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration
Potential for Agriculture in NSW , NSW DPI 2008</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-44700753641531831732014-03-18T12:41:00.000+11:002014-03-18T12:41:14.294+11:00Australian farmers to get soil carbon credits<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">Australian Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt just walked off stage at the National Carbon Farming Conference in Canberra today after announcing soil carbon will soon be a real option for Australian farmers.<br /><br />1. Soil Carbon Sequestration through Grazing Management is now listed on the Positive List (which confers "Additionality" on the activity).<br /><br />2. The Methodology Determination that will govern the process of producing abatement through grazing management will be ready for the start of the Emissions Reductions Fund on July 1 2014. It is measurement-based.<br /><br />3. A system of buffers will provide self-insurance protection for farmers from losing money due to carbon reversals. This removees the danger of the 100 Year Permenance Rule.<br /><br />Greg Hunt praised the people at the conference for their campaign since 2005 for soil carbon sequestration.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">See www.carbonfarmingconference.com.au</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-9869614117206155952014-01-26T11:20:00.002+11:002014-01-26T11:20:51.130+11:00Abbott's Mandate: Soil Carbon<span class="ListContent">The Abbott Government has a mandate to
introduce a system of soil carbon credits that will make it financially
attractive for landholders to adopt regenerative soil management
practices that capture and hold carbon in the landscape. Tony Abbott fought two federal elections with the promise: “Under the
Direct Action plan, soil carbons will be the major plank of our
strategy.” As long ago as 2008 then Shadow Minister Greg Hunt declared
that the Coalition had “a soil carbon vision”. A Coalition Government
would commit to a “once in a century” replenishment of our national
soils and farmlands. Those of us working for this outcome took Greg Hunt
at his word. Now, as Minister, he can deliver on the vision. The
Minister has declared 1st July, 2014 the start of the new Carbon Farming
Initiative. He will need to deliver on his promise to remove the
suffocating green tape that requires each land-based carbon activity to
have its own Act of Parliament and its participants to hold an
Australian Financial Services Licence. His presentation at the National
Carbon Farming Conference in Canberra on 17-20 March, 2014 will be
watched closely. Greg Hunt could find himself in the centre of a perfect
storm of opportunity: a low cost method of measuring soil carbon has
emerged from the CSIRO; Hunt’s own department has a soil carbon
‘methodology’ on the work bench; and a breakthrough in the economics of
biochar could make it available at last for broadacre farmers. All
three will be subject of presentations at the Conference.</span><br />
<span class="ListContent"><br />In his Fifth Estate article, Bathurst Burr: Let's March Out of Step, <a href="http://www.thefifthestate.com.au/archives/58384/comment-page-1/#comment-9961">Michael Mobbs speaks the truth</a>: "</span>The real climate deniers are greenies, “sustainable” designers, companies, engineers, builders and policy-makers. One may speak for something but by actions deny it – and their actions deny climate change. They say they accept the science that shows human cultures have
increased the temperature of Earth. In response, they promote “green”
buildings, codes, projects, electric cars and bikes, and things that,
they say, will cut future pollution. But these same folk say or do
nothing to take existing pollution out of Earth’s air. Yet it’s existing pollution that has broken Earth’s climate."<br />
<br />
You cannot prevent extreme weather
events by avoiding emissions because you can’t prevent your
grandfather’s emissions and it is they doing all the damage. They must
be extracted from the atmosphere and there is only one way to do that at
the scale we need it: photosynthesis, Nature’s carbon vacuum cleaner.
Billions of hectares of agricultural soils can be deployed immediately
at critical mass and massive capacity. Emissions reduction is the long term solution. But there is no long term without a short term.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-7592496133751134332013-11-25T11:58:00.001+11:002013-11-25T12:08:32.717+11:00CFI "green tape" to be reviewed<br />
The "shibboleth"that crippling regulations will make consumers sufficiently confident about the environmental integrity to pay high prices for abatement offsets will be tested in the enquiry into the Australian financial system, announced by the offices of the Prime Minister and Treasurer. Australian Carbon Credit Units are formally financial instruments and anyone dealing in them (except farmers selling on their own behalf) must have an Australian Financial Services Licence. This requirement brings ACCUs into the purview of the enquiry.<br />
The government aims to, among other things, "reduce the regulatory burden... wherever the benefits to... consumer protection are questionable." The issue is tagged as "Gold-plating the CFI". The Government plans a "root and branch examination of
the nation's financial system". It said: "The
inquiry will make recommendations to foster an efficient, competitive
and flexible financial system, consistent with financial stability,
prudence, integrity and fairness. This should result in less costs,
lower fees and greater efficiency in the allocation of capital."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://100yearrule.blogspot.com.au/">See 100 Year Old Deal-killer</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-56347593833596854502013-11-21T21:22:00.000+11:002013-11-21T21:22:23.252+11:0017. Soil Carbon Measurement solution<br />
<br />
Problem: A significant cost for soil carbon sequestration is measurement, monitoring and verification. A farmer buying such services as a single purchaser would face a major cost decision. Practical solution: But were the farmers aggregated into a buying group they could negotiate a significant discount. This would be relatively easy to arrange in a mature market. But in a start-up market – with uncertainty in the minds of many due to misinformation – it would be hard to find an aggregator willing to take the risk without a monopoly or a Government initiated scheme which operated as a competitive tender.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-35282979811790467252013-11-21T21:13:00.000+11:002013-11-21T21:13:03.875+11:0016. Low cost abatement<br />
Problem: Soil Carbons are not by their nature low cost. The term “low cost abatement” has been the touchstone of the Government’s campaign for a Direct Action Carbon Farming Initiative. At times it was expressed as “Lowest Cost Abatement”. The Government has flagged that it will be the sole purchaser and that it will achieve this by conducting “reverse auctions”. The Government’s “Low cost” is read by farmers as “Low price” to them. Farmers are traditionally price-takers, not price-makers. Farmers suffer from poor terms of trade. They are given to cutting each others’ throats in a race to the bottom. The incentive to invest is not a simple matter of price. The decision to seek Australian Carbon Credit Units is a complex trade-off of risks vs rewards. Farmer engagement will be determined by three elements: Price, Costs, Risk. (See Appendix F below) Practical solution 1: To convince a farmer to take a low price for a crop (eg. soil carbons) we would need to offer low costs (eg. Green Army help to plant; low cost measurement - see below) and low risks. (eg. 100 Year solution).<br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">APPENDIX F: Low cost abatement</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">The term “low cost abatement” has been the touchstone of the Government’s campaign for a Direct Action Carbon Farming Initiative. At times it was expressed as “Lowest Cost Abatement”. The Government has flagged that it will be the sole purchaser and that it will achieve this by conducting “reverse auctions”.“In a reverse auction, the sellers compete to obtain business from the buyer and prices will typically decrease as the sellers undercut each other.” (Wikipedia) Farmers are traditionally price-takers, not price-makers. Farmers suffer from poor terms of trade. They are given to cutting each others’ throats in a race to the bottom. The incentive to invest is not a simple matter of price. The decision to seek Australian Carbon Credit Units is a complex trade-off of risks vs rewards. Farmer engagement will be determined by three elements: Price, Costs, Risk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">1. Price: The land sector is often characterised as a source of ‘low cost abatement’. This implies that the cost of abatement activities is low in that sector and that farmers will be willing to take low prices for abatement. Both assumptions are questionable. The farmer is an entrepreneur. They will invest only if it makes financial sense - that after all costs have been covered, there is sufficient profit to make it a better use of the capital invested. Abatement activities must compete with other investments. DAFF in conjunction with the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), recently produced a study entitled “Costs and potential of agricultural emissions abatement in Australia – a quantitative assessment of livestock abatement under the CFI.” ABARES concluded that the effect of the CFI on agricultural emissions is highly sensitive to the carbon price and will be modest at low to medium carbon prices. In addition, ABARES concluded that under current carbon prices in Australia, farmers would not adopt many of the known emissions abatement technologies for livestock, without a significant reduction in their cost. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">2. Costs: Abatement activities entail costs: eg., fencing, site presentation, seed or stems, and planting for revegetation can cost more than $3000/ha; biochar suppliers are aspiring to get prices of the char itself down to $150/tonne, applied at up to 10-20 tonnes/ha, repeated every 3 to 5 years; wire and water for grazing management can cost $50,000+ for an average-size grazing enterprise. The notion that ACCUs are simply “icing on the cake” assumes that the changes are so patently good for the soil (eg. fertility and soil health) or animals (methane conversion to meat) that they will be taken up by farmers upon hearing of them… Farmers, naturally, are comfortable with their current practices. Anything new entails risk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">3. Risk: There is a direct relationship between risk and reward: Risk costs money. The more risk in an investment the more time and resources required to obtain information about it and monitor it. The importance of a loss of $X is greater than the importance of a gain of $X, so a riskier investment will attract a higher risk premium. Risk is therefore something that must be compensated for, and the more risk the more compensation required… the higher the price expectation of the seller.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">The Carbon Farming Initiative is a high-risk activity for farmers simply because few understand it. It is a complex program; it cannot be taught in a 2-day workshop. The CFI Integrity Standards are structured so that farmers are exposed to high levels of perceived risk. Eg., The 100 Years Rule requires that the farmer guarantee sequestered carbon levels for a period of three generations, with the project period (when obligations apply) lasting at least 5 times longer than the crediting period (when revenue flows). This is a significant risk and a major barrier to engagement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Further adding to the risk for farmers/investors is the sudden linking of Australian and European prices from 2015 onwards when EU units can be imported into Australia, Australian carbon units cannot be exported to Europe until July 2018. EU prices have been subject to a long decline due to the on-going financial crisis and an oversupply of 1.2 billion permits. There are proposals to retire these units en masse from Phase 3 of the EU ETS, which starts in 2013. This may lead to European allowance prices recovering from below €7 to €19 (AU$23) in 2015. The ease with which units can be rendered valueless by government decree is further evidence of risk and uncertainty. Building links with a financially-troubled Europe to share its carbon finance system is difficult to understand. Risks facing farmers in this new market include those that are known, understood and manageable and those that are not. Market-driven risks are known, understood and, to some degree, manageable. Risks arising from shifts driven by politics are not. The uncertainty is greater and risk is higher with policy shifts, which are less predictable and complicate an Initiative already poorly understood by farmers. Risk will drive price expectations and price will drive take-up.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-44392496669133458012013-11-21T21:06:00.001+11:002013-11-21T21:06:13.275+11:0015. NGERS into NCOS?<div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Problem: The Direct Action market may become too small to absorb Australia’s agricultural offsets. Practical solution: The majority of entities caught up in the previous Government’s major carbon tax net (emitting 25,000+ tonnes of carbon annually) were reported to be in favour of there being a price on carbon when it was first imposed. This goodwill might be used as a platform to encourage emitters to aspire to “Carbon Neutral” status via the National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS). The program needs attention. It charges an outrageous amount of money (up to $25,000) for use of the NCOS logo to publicise the entity’s involvement. It has not invested sufficiently in building awareness of the program or the logo for enrollees to derive value from it. This is a major disincentive. The Government could encourage Direct Action by individuals and corporations by operating a system of recognition: publish the list annually; publicise new additions; stage an award system; etc. This system could be made more significant were the offsets earned by entities covered by the NGERS or opting into it able to be counted towards our national target of 5% below 2000 levels by 2020. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-18167863343687025982013-11-21T21:02:00.000+11:002013-11-21T21:02:05.325+11:0014. Climate Action Volunteers<br />
For those who are concerned that the world is not doing enough about Climate Change, the Government encourages them to join grassroots organisations like Landcare/Coastcare or similar, purchase CFI farm-based offsets from local farmers, or businesses can ‘go carbon neutral’ via the NCOS (National Carbon Offsets Standard). The Voluntary Market provides farmers with alternative outlets for offsets. The assumption that the Voluntary Market will always be characterised by low volumes and low prices is questionable. In the past 12 months, the price of Australian domestic voluntary offsets has exceeded international compliance permits.(eg., REDD Forests in Tasmania $9.50, EU ETS $7.00). Qantas entered into an agreement to buy more than 1.5 million tonnes of carbon credits from Henbury Station in central Australia in 2012. Dubbo’s Transforce Bulk Haulage – the first heavy transport fleet to achieve carbon neutrality– chose to pay $12 for offsets when units were available for $2.30 and less . The Voluntary Market has yet to fulfil its potential as a means of building community engagement in abatement. Regional development programs, alliances of local organisations, woven together by outreach techniques, could create demand for Voluntary Market offsets, ensuring a market after the Fund has finished.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-72135219622398854222013-11-21T21:00:00.002+11:002013-11-21T21:00:26.665+11:0013. Calculator settings too conservative<br />
Problem: Releasing the most farmer-unfriendly/most conservative editions of Methodologies first damages the CFI’s image among potential proponents. Bad word of mouth about the first edition robs later, more farmer-friendly ones. A Methodology for Quantifying Carbon Sequestration by Permanent Environmental Plantings of Native Species using the CFI Reforestation Modelling Tool. The Calculator settings are too conservative. The first farm-based offsets methodology established the reputation of the CFI among farmers as difficult, costly, and a poor deal. The Methodology applies to “the establishment of permanent environmental plantings which have the potential to attain a crown cover of at least 20% and a height of at least two metres.” This is the official definition of a ‘forest’ in Australia under the Carbon Farming Initiative. Accompanying the Methodology is a Reforestation Modelling Tool, which helps define the project area, and assist in estimating emissions and removals from the project, to enable the calculation of ACCUs generated by the project. But the Modelling Tool (Calculator) dictates a very high planting density, ie. 500-1000 per hectare, far higher than that necessary to attain 20% crown cover. This is more in line with an old-style investment forest than a “Grassy Woodland”. Woodlands are a category of vegetation differing from forests and rainforests by the height, spacing and crown cover of the component trees. They are defined as 'ecosystems that contain widely spaced trees with their crowns not touching' (David Lindenmayer, Mason Crane and Damian Michael, Woodlands, a disappearing landscape, CSIRO Publishing, 2005) "Projected Foliage Cover' is the percentage of the soil surface that is shaded by the tree crowns. In woodlands it is usually between 10 and 30%...” Given that a lone paddock tree could reach 10 metres crown cover on its own, the density of planting of 1000 trees could theoretically cover the entire surface area of a hectare. A Grassy Woodland would be more attractive to a grazier because it does not lock the land up for 100 Years. The Methodology allows occasional “grazing” from 3 years after planting. In fact, grasslands need grazing or burning to prevent build-up of dead and oxidising vegetation which can block the emergence of fresh grasses. A Grassy Woodland would cost much less to establish due to the simple arithmetic of cost per stem planted. A Grassy Woodland represents a smaller risk of fire killing the trees due to the lower density of fuel reducing the heat generated. A Grassy Woodland costs less to re-establish should it be destroyed. A Grassy Woodland fits the definition given in the Methodology for Quantifying Carbon Sequestration by Permanent Environmental Plantings of Native Species using the CFI Reforestation Modelling Tool. Practical solution: Make the methodology determination meet the dimensions supplied in the official description of a CFI Forest for consistency.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-22754725296297044102013-11-21T20:56:00.000+11:002013-11-21T20:56:21.121+11:0012. Green Army smart application<br />
Problem: Green Army funding not generating offsets: A unique combination of three elements of the Direct Action plan can create high returns for the Government’s investment in climate action. The three elements are: 1. The Green Army of 15,000 17-to-24-year-olds who will work in teams of 10; 2. The target number of trees to be planted in the Government’s current tenure, 20 million. 3. The CFI Environmental Plantings offset methodology that enables farmers to earn carbon credits for permanent plantings. Practical solution 1: Concept: many farmers find the cost of fencing, preparing the ground, buying the stem stock or seed stock, and planting too expensive, despite being willing to commit a piece of their land to a carbon planting. By bringing the two programs together, the farmers could be motivated to participate and the young volunteers could have some exposure to farm life. The permanence of the planting is guaranteed; enduring far longer than a weed clearance project. In many rural districts there may not be many projects of the type described in the Direct Action brochure: walking tracks and board walks. The blending of the programs creates opportunities for farmer, volunteer and the Government/Community. Practical solution 2: Incorporate all planting activities into the CFI environmental plantings to earn offsets to help meet the 2020 target.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-45686520470866244172013-11-21T20:52:00.000+11:002013-11-21T20:52:30.546+11:0011. The high cost of Common Practice<br />
Problem: The national survey of farming practices will be difficult and costly for little return. Even an expert cannot draw the distinction between rotational grazing, cell grazing, pulse grazing, time controlled grazing, crash grazing , and grazing management to the satisfaction of all. Practitioners tend to use these terms inter-changedly. Training organisations use different names for their grazing systems. Tillage systems are also subject to multiple naming variations within categories. And the terms “biology” or “biological” are used in various combinations to cover a wide array of processes and product types. Biochar researchers have ‘characterised’ 80 different variations (based on feedstock, soil type, temperature and residence times) that have different functionalities (eg. adding carbon to soil, supressing N2O, suppressing methane emissions, boosting microbiology, etc.) Unless the survey designer and the data collectors understand what they are looking at, the quality of the data suffers. Practical solution: Replace Common Practice with a simple formula: new activity x individual. Is the activity new for the enterprise? If it is, it is Additional.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-63219696210570794162013-11-21T20:48:00.001+11:002013-11-21T20:48:46.286+11:0010. Common Practice impossible to determine<br />
Problem: The concept of Common Practice, as currently applied, creates unnecessary uncertainty. Uncertainty creates risk and risk discourages action. Potential proponents cannot be sure if an activity will be declared “common” at between 5% to 30% penetration. The assumption that a market will continue to grow through a take off point along a smooth curve driven by carbon offsets, after the offsets are no longer available, is unsound. There is no research into what happens to the shape of a Curve of Market Adoption when the incentive driving buyers up the curve is changed. One indicator could be what happened the response to changes in availability of rebates for solar energy installations in the 5 years to 2010.<br />
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No provision has been made for reversal of trends, such as is apparent in no-till cultivation. A national survey of no-till use by farmers in 2008 found between 45% and 90% of cropping operations in major grain producing regions use the technique. This would eliminate no-till as potentially Additional. But there are three other elements acting to reverse the trend into no-till: 1. Difficulty getting through vegetation afer recent good rainfall years. 2. Weed resistance to herbicides. 3. Extension services (eg. NSW DPI) are encouraging reintroduction of traditional tillage under the heading “strategic cultivation”, ie. as a solution to resistance. (Rick Llewellyn and F. H. D’Emden, Adoption of no-till cropping practices in Australian grain growing regions, GRDC, 2010) Practical solution: Allow proponents to submit combinations of activities as an “activity” for the purposes of assessment for Common Practice. Carbon farmers commonly apply a portfolio of practices to a paddock, eg. no-till and natural fertilisers; eg. grazing management and pasture cropping. This reflects actual practice, widens the range of options available to the farmer, and maximises soil carbon sequestration.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-36228836626539317312013-11-21T20:39:00.001+11:002013-11-21T20:39:10.213+11:009. Biochar blocked by economics <br />
Problem: Biochar has proved itself to be an effective means of increasing growth in plants by significant amounts in many soil types and feedstock. But it achieves these results applied at 10 to 100 tonnes/ha, in pots, economically unrealistic in the paddock. Practical solution 1: innovative use of smaller amounts (250kg – 1tonne/ha) combined with other natural nutrients. Practical solution 2: seek innovations that deliver multiple ‘profit points’, eg., use biochar as feed additive to increase production; compost the resulting manure as high-value alternative fertiliser. Offsets are possible for soil carbon in the biochar, soil carbon as the result of compost application, and reduced emissions of nitrous oxide from substitution of N fertiliser. Breakthrough needed: a CFI methodology for biochar from woodchips.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-62786115537817792152013-11-21T20:34:00.000+11:002013-11-21T20:34:07.620+11:008. Collaboration speeds solutions<br />
Problem: The collaboration of scientists and farmers could speed the development of abatement methodologies by providing the process with complementary insights and a sense of urgency. As convenors of 9 gatherings of scientists and land managers – Soil Science Summits and Carbon Farming Conferences - since 2007, we have promoted the spirit of collaboration and knowledge exchange in order to speed the development of opportunities for farmers to contribute to the global response to climate change. Methodologies for biochar (chicken manure) and Soil Carbon are delayed by “business as ususal” time-frames required by scientists ‘writing’ official methodologies solo. Practical solution: set a deadline after consulting scientists about real world time scales. The Biochar and Soil Carbon methodologies are on the workbench, both potential sources of soil carbon offsets. Government could build multi-skilled teams for methodology development because it is much more than a scientific activity. It is a task that requires actuaries, commodity analysts, market economists, marketing experts, etc., and farmers. To help unpick the Gordian Knots that cannot be unpicked alone.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-28828178994131968542013-11-21T20:29:00.000+11:002013-11-21T20:29:56.724+11:007. Accounting for Erosion: More complexity<br />
7. Accounting for Erosion: More complexity<br />
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Problem: The Department is planning to force soil carbon methodology proponents to measure the impact of erosion and deposition on the calculation of on-farm abatement. “How could erosion/deposition be included in the abatement calculation?” Erosion (and hence deposition) is caused by soil being exposed to the elements. Soil carbon cannot be accumulated when earth is bare. Thus it can be assumed that there will be an inverse correlation between soil erosion (reductions) and soil carbon (increases). The good carbon farmer receives topsoil from paddocks of poor farmers. It would add unnecessary complexity to try to calculate the soil trading account. (See APPENDIX D) Practical solution: Abandon the requirement to track erosion and deposition and account for it in carbon accounting on farm. It would be conservative to do so.<br />
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APPENDIX E: Urgent need for action on wind erosion</div>
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A good example of the way a lack of proportion can create unnecessary complexity and thus delay can be seen in the case of dust. In a recent Soil Carbon Stakeholders Reference Group Meeting, Draft Sampling Design Method and Guidelines, Annotated Agenda, 8 November, 2013: “Note that a full methodology will contain information on how to calculate project-level abatement including the treatment of uncertainty and erosion…” The Department has discovered yet another area of uncertainty that will delay soil carbon offsets trading while scientists find a way to incorporate this new reason to discount a farmer’s return on soil carbon increases into the calculation of on-farm abatement.</div>
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Although CSIRO research scientist Dr Adrian Chappell says: “soil organic carbon lost through dust is not a major contributor to Australia’s total emissions”, he goes on to list a series of facts that make it sound like it is and the only solution is more scientific study. These facts include the following:</div>
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•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dust contains carbon and clay which hold the bulk of soil nutrients. </div>
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•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dust emission depletes soil nutrients at the source… and enriches soils where dust is deposited. </div>
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•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Carbon stored in our soils helps sustain plant growth. </div>
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•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Millions of tonnes of dust and carbon are blowing away.</div>
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•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It is uncertain where all that ends up.</div>
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•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>With the frequency and intensity of dust storms likely to increase in Australia, the impact of wind erosion would also increase.</div>
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The inevitable conclusion then follows: “This redistribution of carbon needs to be better understood so we can improve our land management practices to better protect our soils.” Naturally we cannot trade soil carbon offsets while these newly-discovered levels of uncertainty remain unstudied and unresolved. </div>
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But Dr Chappell’s paper could just as well be a call to action to use our existing knowledge to make an immediate impact on the levels of soil carbon loss. We already know how to protect our soils from erosion: increased ground cover. And we know where we need to see this increase: on agricultural lands. And we know how to achieve it: get farmers to change their land management practices to reduce over-grazing and unnecessary baring of earth by cultivation and ploughing. This change in behaviour will increase soil carbon levels – and farmers can earn soil carbon credits. In fact, we are on the point of achieving a methodology so farmers can start to earn soil carbon credits by changing their land management practices, increasing ground cover and reducing wind erosion.</div>
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We welcome Dr Chappell’s action in highlighting the role of the agricultural land manager in the source of wind erosion and soil losses: His work underlines the need for an effective incentive to change the behaviour of many land managers. “Wind erosion is a natural process, exacerbated by land management practices. Dust is lost from agricultural lands when management decisions that affect the percentage of ground cover retained and the soil aggregation level have not taken into account climatic conditions,” he says. “Circumstances which encourage sustainable land management have improved greatly, but not all land holders have adopted these management practices, and it is for this reason that accelerated wind erosion still occurs. </div>
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“Wind erosion levels increase dramatically when ground cover levels (the percentage of soil covered by vegetation) drop below 50 per cent (Leys 1999). Land management practices that lead to overgrazing and excessive cultivation of ground cover can result in cover levels below 50 per cent, and during drier periods this increases the likelihood of wind erosion. In February 2012 the largest dust event in NSW since early 2010 was associated with burning and cultivation of cropland, which resulted in low ground cover levels in north west Victoria and far south west New South Wales (Office of Environment and Heritage 2012, http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/dustwatch/DWNL120430.pdf).</div>
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Dr Chappell’s research paper “Soil organic carbon dust emission: an omitted global source of atmospheric CO2” was published in the journal Global Change Biology.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-22723501856680911092013-11-21T20:12:00.000+11:002013-11-21T20:12:30.462+11:006. New layers of complexity<br />
Problem: Changes to the Guidelines for Submitting Methodologies have added a new layer of complexity and expense and delay: proponents have to include the effects of background variability such as climate or rainfall when calculating a business as usual baseline. A dry spell could inflate the impact of an N2O suppression project. The reverse – extra rainfall – could boost soil carbon stock. The farmer would appear to be getting more than they should if rainfall was normal. (What’s normal? How can we calculate against weather patterns that are presumably ahistorical – affected by climate change?) “The purpose of such adjustments is to ensure that reported abatement (and hence crediting) provides an accurate reflection of the impact of changes in management practices on carbon stocks over time. Unless such adjustments are made, credits could be issued for temporary abatement.” (The permanence of abatement is not a function of background variability.) The complexity and expense of such a requirement far outweighs the need to eliminate the element of luck from the transaction. In many cases, getting more rain than the neighbours is not a matter of luck but planning. Revegetating the landscape can have the effect of creating a ‘micro-climate’ – cooling the air above and attracting more moisture. Practical solution: Abandon background variability as a requirement. Nothing will be gained or lost.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22683438.post-34671781466002987592013-11-21T20:07:00.000+11:002013-11-21T20:07:06.474+11:005. Counting Deep Soil Carbon<div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Problem: A Soil Carbon methodology that is blocked by 30cm depth requirement of the National Accounts, allows no access to the carbon below 30cm. Carbon is commonly distributed 33% in the top 10cms, 33% in the 10-30cm profile, and 33% below. (Soils Officer, CWCMA) Practical solution 1: use the increase below 30cm as “conservativism” buffer, to avoid reducing payment to grower. Practical solution 2: develop a global voluntary market methodology branded with reference to quality assurance by 30-100cm security buffer (ie. conservativeness buffer). Practical solution 3: The Government can claim use of these additional tonnages to meet its target.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0