When you consider the tremendous growth in our economy since 1990, that represents a significant challenge. This includes agreement on flexibility mechanisms, including emissions trading, and also on the inclusion of carbon sinks. These are important issues for agriculture and could keep the overall costs of reducing emissions to a minimum. But regardless of the outcome of these, and other international negotiations, the message is clear Australian agriculture needs to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and find new ways of doing some of its business. And how we minimise the cost to industry of this change, or even how we can turn it to our advantage, is a key consideration which you will no doubt be discussing at this workshop and over the coming years.
Agriculture is a significant contributor to Australia s greenhouse gas emissions.
Land clearing aside, the estimates are that it could represent as much as 22 per cent. But while agriculture is considered part of the problem, it is also very much part of the solution. For example, the sector can help reduce or offset emissions by providing biomass for renewable energy and also by creating carbon sinks through revegetation or improved land management practices. The same philosophy must be applied to the challenges now facing us with regard to greenhouse. As I said earlier, in an environment marked by growing international pressure for tougher greenhouse measures, it's vital Australian industry stays ahead of the game and minimises the threats to our competitiveness.