The Farmers for Climate Action has released an urgent call for a strong climate policy that can help deliver Australian farmers a great deal with the European Union.
Fiona Davis, chief executive of the farmers’ representative organisation, said beef, lamb, and dairy producers in Australia would directly benefit from such a deal.
Valdis Dombrovskis, the 27-nation bloc’s trade commissioner, recently confirmed that climate targets will be part of any trade deal between Australia and the EU.
“The EU has much more ambitious climate targets than Australia – 55% below 1990 levels by 2030,” Davis said.
The EU also made it clear that Australia’s farmers may face trade sanctions if Australia does not catch up on climate. The bloc, along with other markets, warned of imposing a carbon border tariff on Australia unless the country addresses its climate policies.
“Let’s not miss the opportunity to seal a great trade deal for our farmers by pushing deep emissions reductions this decade. Strong climate policy creates strong regional economies and tens of thousands of regional jobs,” Davis added.
“The farmers who grow our food do not deserve to be punished for the emissions of the energy and transport sectors.”
