February 8, 2010

Australia launches programme to cut carbon emissions by half

Australia's top science agency has unveiled a A$70 million (US$61 million) a year programme to cut carbon emissions by 50% and boost farm sector productivity by at least 50% by 2030.

About 60% of the funds for the Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation's (CSIRO) Sustainable Flagship Programme, will come from an annual grant from government with the balance from private industry and other public agencies, such as universities, Industry Minister Kim Carr said at a function to launch the programme.

Agriculture is under pressure from climate change and other environmental constraints and from growing demand for food and for fuel for energy, he said.

Agricultural productivity growth of a long-term average 2.8% a year has started to flatten out so a lot more research needs to be undertaken to meet a projected 70% increase in world food production by 2050, Agriculture Minister Tony Burke said at the function.

The director of the programme, Brian Keating, said its goal will be a "stretch" and involve 400 CSIRO researchers, which is about three quarters of its establishment, and all key farm industries.