Climate change is a significant environmental problem and a unique challenge for industries, governments and individuals alike.  Global economies are rising to the challeng, determining ways to reduce greenhouses gases (GHG) and placing significant attention on the development of emissions trading markets (i.e. carbon markets).  Within these markets, the agricultural sector has been identified as a means to provide biological carbon sinks to offset current emissions.

On February 26, 2008, the Canadian federal government announced the allocation of $66 million in the federal budget "to lay the groundwork for a regulatory system for industrial emissions that would price carbon and introduce carbon trading in Canada".  (CBC News, 2008)

These excerpts are from a paper, released today, titled "Emissions Trading in Agriculture:  A Canadian Perspective".  The paper was prepared by Cher Brethour and Maria Klimas of the George Morris Centre.  A presentation, based on the research, was made by Brethour at the Agriculture and Emissions Trading Summit in Queensland, Australia in April 2008.

The purpose of the paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current status of Canada's commitment to greenhouse gas emission reductions, with specific focus on the role of emissions trading and agriculture in meeting this commitment.