Seeking solutions

Tim Flannery’s timely piece (“US carbon tariff offers opportunity for Australia”, May 1-7) describes the stupidity of the Morrison government’s pretence that it can somehow withstand the push for the cessation of fossil fuel mining in the face of a 100 per cent change in trading structures based on carbon savings and sustainable development agendas. Mark Carney, former Bank of England governor, said last year that by 2025 financial institutions will want fully transparent reporting of carbon impacts. This will mean the associated position of the deployment of funds must be reported against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Firms representing trillions of dollars of investment will be driving the agenda worldwide. The government’s pretence that this is avoidable is a potential tragedy for all Australian industry. Flannery makes the point that while agricultural production, specifically beef and dairy, will not be captured in these carbon imposts, current research into use of the seaweed Asparagopsis in the diet of animals, if successful, could help reduce methane produced in these industries.

There are other ways to offset the carbon management of beef and dairy herds, such as regenerative agriculture, pasture cropping, holistic planned grazing and green cover crops, to name a few. Any of these solutions will also reduce the use of artificial fertiliser and chemical poisons in our food systems. If we are going to seek solutions to our broken water and carbon cycle crises, let us first of all read a little more and understand best practice and its actual cost. – Gerry Gillespie, Queanbeyan, NSW