Agriculture, Climate Change & Carbon Sequestration

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Latest Pig Industry News

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

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Agriculture, Climate Change & Carbon Sequestration

US - Carbon sequestration and reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can occur through a variety of agriculture practices. The latest publication from ATTRA provides an overview of the relationship between agriculture, climate change and carbon sequestration. It also investigates possible options for farmers and ranchers to have a positive impact on the changing climate and presents opportunities for becoming involved in the emerging carbon market.

ATTRA, the US National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, covers how climate change influences agriculture and vice versa. There is also information on the 'value' of soil carbon, options for farmers and about carbon trading.

In summary, says ATTRA, the public sector will play an important role in determining how to engage the agriculture sector in the reduction of GHG emissions.

The government can use its power to tax, subsidize or create a new market mechanism to do this. In 2008, the US Senate debated climate change legislation, including the Lieberman-Warner bill. This bill proposes a modified cap-and-trade system with the expectation that the agriculture sector will provide at least 15 per cent of the offsets needed to reduce GHG emissions 71 per cent from 2005 levels by 2050.

Whether this or future legislation will become the base of future climate change improvements, there is little doubt that agriculture will play some role in the effort reports ATTRA.