National agriculture and climate change action plan 2006-2009

Climate change poses challenges for all sectors of the Australian economy but particularly for those sectors dependent on natural resources such as agriculture. The National Agriculture and Climate Change Action Plan 2006-2009 (the Action Plan) is an agreement by Australian governments to develop a coordinated framework for climate change policy in agriculture to contribute to the development of a sustainable, competitive and profitable Australian agricultural sector into the future. It will provide Australian, state and territory governments and research and development organisations with a practical tool to develop effective and efficient policies to overcome the challenges imposed by climate change. The objectives, strategies and actions presented in the Action Plan have been endorsed by the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council. The Action Plan complements the National Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan 2004-2007. The Action Plan identifies four key areas to manage the multiple risks to sustainable agriculture in an environment of climate change including adaptation strategies to build resilience into agricultural systems, mitigation strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, research and development to enhance the agricultural sector's capacity to respond to climate change and awareness and communication to inform decision-making by primary producers and rural communities. The Action Plan will facilitate an increased awareness of climate change issues among primary producers and rural communities and will provide a strategic framework for primary producers when undertaking business planning and decision making.