Horticulture Across-Industry Climate/Carbon Forum

The Grace Hotel, SYDNEY

Wednesday 11th March 2009

AGENDA

Objective: Increase understanding and identify options for future investment in climate and carbon management across horticulture

Timing:• 1:00pm – Welcome and introductions (Alison)• 1:10pm – CC policy landscape & CCRSPI (Owen)• 2:00pm – MCVP (Colin)• 2:30pm – Horticulture CC Action Plan (Peter)• 3:00pm – Current and proposed CC projects (Alison)• 3:10pm – BREAK• 3:30pm – Communication on CC (Chris/Alison)• 4:00pm – DISCUSSION• 5:00pm – CLOSE

WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS

Presenters:• Owen Cameron – CCRSPI Program Manager, Land &

Water Australia (LWA)• Colin Creighton – Managing Climate Variability

Program Manager, LWA• Peter Deuter – Senior Principle Horticulturalist, Dept of

Primary Industries & Fisheries• Chris Rowley – Health Initiative Coordinator (Go for

2&5 Program)External Guests:• Jackie Luethi – CCRSPI Program Officer, LWA• David Putland – Climate Change Project Officer,

Growcom

Apology – Charles McElhone, NFF

CURRENT & PROPOSED CLIMATE CHANGE

RESEARCH PROJECTS

OVERVIEW OF HORT CC RESEARCH

HAL Environment Portfolio – start of climate change activity

• Vegetables scoping study (P Deuter - VG05051)• CC Recommendations Paper to IACs in DEC 2006• Across-industry support for national project into

responding to CC (P Deuter - AH06019)• Co-funded by MCVP • LOP $80,000

• Increasing interest in climate projects within past 24 months • 2007/08 - ~2% new investment• 2008/09 - ~21% new investment…

Communication on Climate Change – IMC session, Sydney 11th March 2008

CURRENT PROJECTS

2008/09 climate change projects• Approx 10 projects in 2008/09 (21%):• Horticulture component of CCRSPI (AH)• Elevator statement (AH)• Understanding and identifying the threats and

opportunities posed by climate change (AH, BA)• Energy efficiency in glasshouse horticulture• Quantifying environmental credentials (AV, MU, TU)• Carbon discussion papers and workshop (VG)• Carbon footprinting (VG [Houston’s (VC) and now

levy], NT, CF)

• VALUE: VC & LEVY LOP ~$1 million (VG $400k)

Communication on Climate Change – IMC session, Sydney 11th March 2008

PROPOSED PROJECTS

Industry Call for 2009/10 projects• 13 new project proposals submitted (28%):• Horticulture component of CCRSPI (HAL Corp)• Desktop study into impacts of climate change and

industries response (AP, AV, CY)• Unpacking emissions trading (AP, AV)• Soil carbon balance (vegetables)• Understanding the carbon, climate and energy

benefits of urban trees (NY)• Carbon footprinting (TU, VG) and sequestration (TU)• Emissions management (protected cropping),

including ‘Practical solutions to the fertiliser cost shock’ (VG)

• VALUE: VC & LEVY LOP ~$2.5 millionCommunication on Climate Change – IMC session, Sydney 11th March 2008

COMUNICATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

• Interrelated issues – availability of water can be impacted on by climate change and variability

• Media interest increasing• Debate about

environmental flows• Government activity• Worse case scenarios• Increased competition for

resources…

= INFORMATION OVERLOAD!

Current situation

WATER

CLIMATE

ENVIRONMENT

Communication on Climate Change – IMC session, Sydney 11th March 2008

Current communication

• There is a lot of interest and activity in this area – at many different scales resulting in:• Messages being diluted• Increasing confusion about who is doing

what• Overlap in investment and resources• Inconsistent terminology

• There is an urgent need for: • relevant, tailored information for

horticultural growers• coordination of communication to reduce

confusion and ensure understanding of the threats, opportunities and future activities

Communication on Climate Change – IMC session, Sydney 11th March 2008

Response

2008/09 Activities:• External Communication - PROMOTION: • IMC acknowledged the need for promotion of the

horticulture industry’s environmental credentials to consumers

1. Environment Communication Plan (AH07022)2. DRAFT ‘elevator statement’ of horticulture’s

carbon footprint developed and submitted to IMC for comment

3. DRAFT Consumer fact sheet that clarifies horticulture’s contribution and impacts from climate change developed and available for comment nowCommunication on Climate Change – IMC session, Sydney 11th March 2008

Response

2008/09 Activities:• Internal Communication - AWARENESS: • There is an urgent need to improve industry

understanding of climate change/variability issues and responses (Horticulture CC Action Plan Strategy 3 and Growcom CC Strategy Priority)• “What does CC mean to me and my

business?”1. IAC/industry conference presentations (AT)2. DRAFT fact sheets (attachments to briefing

papers)3. Opportunity to update climate change website as

part of overall HAL website updateCommunication on Climate Change – IMC session, Sydney 11th March 2008

Communication options/opportunities…Some highlighted options :• Consumer fact sheet• Horticulture specific fact sheets

• Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme• Climate change impacts• Decision support tools

• Updated website content focused on both consumers & other stakeholders (external) and industry at all levels (internal)

• Industry workshops• Peak industry body briefings

Communication on Climate Change – IMC session, Sydney 11th March 2008

THIS SESSION…

• Agree on urgent communication priorities to answer the questions already being asked by industry, such as:• What direct impact will climate change have

on my business?• What can I do to prepare for climate change

impacts? And when? • What incentives and options are available?• What is HAL/the PIB doing in response to the

issue of climate change/variability?

• CHRIS ROWLEY TO FACILITATE

Communication on Climate Change – IMC session, Sydney 11th March 2008