The impact of extreme weather events on food prices overshadow the ‘modest increases’ expected under the proposed CPRS or even more ambitious emissions trading schemes, The Climate Institute briefing paper ‘Food Prices and Emissions Trading’ – released today – suggests. Droughts and other extreme weather events, which are on the rise, have recently increased grocery shopfront prices for lamb by almost 60 per cent and tripled the price of bananas, the think tank... ...Read more »

The recognition and support for food processing in the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) amendments has been welcomed by Australia’s largest manufacturing sector, the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) said today. The Government’s proposed $150 million allocation under the Climate Change Action Fund (CCAF) would provide much-needed support for Australia’s $100 billion food and grocery manufacturing sector, according to the industry body. AFGC... ...Read more »

Farmers are to be exempt from the planned emissions trading scheme, with Labor agreeing to the Coalition request for an exclusion of agriculture from the scheme. Horticulture organisation Growcom welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement, with Chief Advocate Rachel Mackenzie saying the decision was a significant concession and a win for the agricultural sector. “This is a real win for the horticulture sector as we really didn’t need an extra cost imposition that would have... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC), the nation’s peak body representing food and grocery manufacturers, has urged the government to make sure they understand the real impact that an emissions trading scheme will have on consumers. AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell claimed the government continued to overlook the issue of how the proposed emissions trading scheme will impact on the consumers. “The government has been saying all along that costs will be passed through the supply... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council has urged the federal government to implement a Carbon Pollution Reductions Scheme (CPRS) which ensures that Australia’s food and grocery manufacturing sector’s international competitiveness is maintained. “It is industry’s view that any emissions trading scheme which does not include international emitters represents a real threat to the packaged food and grocery industry,” Kate Carnell, Chief Executive of the AFGC, said in a... ...Read more »

Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) yesterday submitted to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Green Paper calling on the Rudd Government to recognise retailers as high energy users and accurately calculate price impacts on consumers.ARA Executive Director Richard Evans said it is irresponsible for the Government to move forward to implement an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) with ideological haste when they are failing to provide accurate analysis around the price... ...Read more »

Even though agriculture cannot be covered by an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), the Australian Government must take steps to ensure consumers can still afford basic food items, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) warned today. “Any ETS will cause pain to businesses and households… people are slowly coming to grips with that reality,” NFF President David Crombie said. “But it could be crippling for Australia’s food production, threatening to damage our... ...Read more »

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) is calling on the Australian Government to actively petition for new accounting rules under the Kyoto Protocol to ensure agriculture’s sequestration of carbon is acknowledged.”The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties’ examination of the rules under the new Kyoto Protocol, and how they affect Australia, is timely,” NFF President David Crombie said. “A full and sober analysis of how Australia will be impacted is essential.” “Australian... ...Read more »