From planting carbon-sequestering windbreaks to feeding cows seaweed to stop them burping as much methane, Australia’s green bank wants to make it easier for farmers to cut emissions.
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has teamed up with National Australia Bank to offer lower-cost green loans for farmers embarking on a range of emissions-slashing activities.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of an arrangement with Rabobank to offer concessional loans to landowners specifically for covering the upfront cost of planting native trees to attract carbon credits.
CEFC head of natural capital Heechung Sung said the agricultural sector had been important to the bank for a while.
“In lowering their carbon footprint, farmers can become more resilient to climate change while also lifting the appeal of their produce, as consumers increasingly preference sustainable products,” she said.
A total of $300 million in CEFC capital has been earmarked for cheap loans for industry decarbonisation through NAB-run programs, including a “meaningful” 1.15 per cent discount for farmers.
Examples of eligible methods include low-emissions fertilisers and methane-reducing livestock feed additives, such as the red seaweed product developed by the CSIRO.
Ms Sung said these products typically came with a cost.
“What we’re saying to farmers is ‘if you’d like to purchase these methane inhibitors for your animal, even, you know, trial it out, we’d be happy to support it’,” she said.
The announcement has been made alongside a new CSIRO-developed tool to help farmers navigate emissions reduction plans and identify any opportunities for low cost finance on the way.
Ms Sung said the freely-available resource would help farmers understand the carbon footprint of their properties and explore opportunities to cut emissions.
NAB Group executive for business and private banking Rachel Slade said businesses now recognised the opportunities of going green.
“Providing lower-cost, green finance makes it easier for Australian businesses to invest in technologies and practices that reduce emissions and operating costs, drive long-term business growth and enhance their competitiveness,” Ms Slade said.
Towards Net Zero Agriculture Pathfinder
The Towards Net Zero Agriculture Pathfinder is provided for Australian farmers. It serves as a guide to understand how to implement on-farm activities that support reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The Pathfinder was developed by CSIRO for the CEFC Towards Net Zero Agriculture Strategy which includes providing farmers with access to discounted finance to accelerate their plans to implement low emissions farming activities.
Who is the Pathfinder suitable for?
Farm Managers
As a guide to invest in technologies and practices that yield financial returns and environmental improvements.
Agriculture consultants and advisers
To provide guidance to their clients towards sustainable and profitable farming solutions.
Decision-makers
Decision-makers within the farming sector can use this guide to help align their operations with a future that balances economic viability with environmental stewardship.
The Pathfinder describes approaches to:
- GHG Baselines including the type of data inventory required to monitor and report the total emissions associated with a farming enterprise, or the emissions intensity of product.
- Farm Emissions Reduction Plans including alignment of activities with business goals and estimating the impact of activities on enterprise emissions.
- On-farm Emissions Reduction Activities consistent with the CEFC TNZ Agriculture Strategy that can contribute to farm profitability and emissions reduction.
The activities in the Pathfinder have been selected because they are likely to have an incentive for farmers to adopt and there is sufficient agreement and evidence of efficacy in reducing emissions. The Pathfinder does not list all possible activities that can reduce on farm emissions. Additional resources where a wider range of activities available to farmers can be found here.
“We MUST respect this earth - it is all we have
Claudio Dametto - South Australia
“I will always Vote to Preserve Our World.
Liam McGregor - Western Australia
“A simple message that even a politician can understand
Felicity Crombach - Victoria
“Please show you care about our future generations!!
Phil Harmer - New South Wales
“Save our world , Life & health before profits.
Kerry Lillian - New South Wales
“Close down all coal mines and Do not mine gas . Make these Companies
Daniel Johnson - New South Wales
“We want carbon free energy!
Edan Clarke - New South Wales
“Feels good to be taking a voter action step
Beaver Hudson - New South Wales
“Great Initiative. Let’s Hold elected officials Accountable to their bosses, us!
John Paul Posada - New South Wales
“We need actions not words we need honest democratic govt We need a pm
Bob Pearce - South Australia
“Thank you for this great resource. I was feeling helpless. Even this small step
Silvia Anderson - Victoria
“If political parties continue receiving political donations, we will rarely have politicians working for
Dan Chicos - New South Wales
“I only vote for people who will take urgent action to restore a safe
Susie Burke - Victoria
“Current government is not representing the opinion of the majority of Australian to meet
Neil Price - Tasmania
“We are fighting to rescue our kids' future from those who seek to steal
Vanessa Norimi - Queensland
“No time to waste Now or Never My vote is for NOW
Rosalie White - Victoria
“I am only 9 but I already care
Ava Bell - New South Wales
“From New Lambton Uniting Church - Caring for our world is a moral imperative.
Niall McKay - New South Wales
“Our federal govt is an International climate Embarrassment - its about time they stepped
Oriana Tolo - Victoria
“Vote earth this time!
Sue Cooke - Queensland
“We are in one on the wealthiest countries in the world. we have the
rowan huxtable - New South Wales
“The climate Emergency is the public health opportunity and urgent priority of the 21st
Mike Forrester - Victoria
“If they want my vote they better act now
Barbara McNiff - New South Wales
“We need to act locally now for the earth. Our only home. Vote Earth
Anne Miller - New South Wales
“I often look at the places I've known all my life and see how
Jim Baird - New South Wales
“Strike one For people power!!! Democracy might prevail outside the current cronyism that faces
Lorraine Bridger - New South Wales
“Our federal politicians Are Afraid to make action on climate change a major election
Jennifer Martin - New South Wales
“climate election, let's go!
Fahimah Badrulhisham - New South Wales
“Great to see this website that is a focus on action for climate change
Lynette Sinclair - New South Wales
“Let’s show politicians and the Murdoch media that climate change is by far the
Jane Aitken - Australian Capital Territory
“If you want to stay in power You need to take action to stop
Jane Bulter - New South Wales
“We are all that stands between terminal climate change and the vulnerable. We are
Carol Khan - Queensland
“We need a Government that Believes this is real and not taking money from
Ken Gray - New South Wales
“I'm voting for my childrens future
Anneliese Alexander - New South Wales