An Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Mitigation and Carbon Biosequestration Opportunities from Rural Land Use

Abstract

This CSIRO report provides an in-depth assessment of the greenhouse gas (GHG) sequestration/mitigation potential likely to be achieved through change in rural land use and management, based on a review of current knowledge and consultation with a cross-section of scientists and land management experts. The focus is on Queensland but in most instances national potential is also estimated.

The report revisits the Garnaut Review (2008) estimates1 for terrestrial greenhouse gas sequestration – in more detail, with a discussion of implementation issues, risks and interactions between options. The review was requested by the Queensland Premier’s Council on Climate Change – as a technical input to policy development.

The report confi rms that there are a wide variety of options for sequestering or mitigating GHG emissions through changed land use and management; the options studied were based on the Garnaut Review categories with some changes in defi nition and emphasis. This report demonstrates that Australia has the opportunity to offset a signifi cant proportion of our GHG emissions, by storing carbon in the landscape and changing the emissions profile from rural land use. Thus, the broad thrust of the Garnaut Review is supported – within Queensland an overall technical potential of 293Mt CO2-e/yr for GHG abatement was estimated, with 140 Mt of this potential being assessed as attainable with concerted efforts in technical and management changes, policy adjustment and shifts in current land management priorities. It must be recognised that these estimates contain a combination of biological, technical and implementation uncertainty.