Senate debates

Monday, 25 June 2018

Motions

Climate Change, Agriculture Industry

5:11 pm

Photo of Janet RiceJanet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(1) commends recent public comments relating to the impacts of climate change from the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, including that "we need to help farmers adapt and change as the climate changes, to protect our food production, our rural jobs and country towns."

(2) notes that:

(a) the Garnaut Climate Change Review found that by 2100, under the no mitigation case, there would be a 92% decline in irrigated agricultural production in the Murray-Darling Basin, and that under the hot, dry extreme case there would be "devastating consequences for the Australian wheat industry, leading to complete abandonment of production for most regions";

(b) vast sectors of Australian agriculture will be unable to effectively adapt to 3 or 4 or more degrees of warming, and that greenhouse gas reduction is the cheaper and more cost effective option for reducing climate change impacts on both our agricultural industries and rural and regional communities; and

(c) the synthesis report into the aggregate effects of the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions submitted under the Paris Agreement, which was produced by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat and presented at COP 22 in Marrakesh, found that "the estimated aggregate annual global emission levels resulting from the implementation of the INDCs do not fall within the scope of least-cost 2°C scenarios by 2025 and 2030; and

(3) calls on the Government to protect Australian agriculture by committing Australia to do our fair share of implementing Article 2 of the Paris Agreement, which would require Australia to reduce our emissions in line with holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Photo of James McGrathJames McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Photo of Sue LinesSue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Photo of James McGrathJames McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

The Australian government has a track record of meeting Australia's international emissions target. Australia has set a responsible and strong target under the Paris climate change agreement. Our approach is focused on ensuring a strong economy, support for jobs and support for Australian industries, including agriculture. The government has welcomed the agreement of the Agriculture Ministers' Forum to support adaptation to climate change in agriculture.

Question agreed to.