Greenhouse Gas Management

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• isr co-ordinated projects



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• Sustainability-linked Greenhouse Gas Management projects

Agriculture is contributing to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including the release of nitrous oxide (N₂O), one of the most potent GHGs. Through the support of Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC), and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), isr-led research is investigating management practices which reduce soil-based GHG emissions, particularly N₂O, and improve soil carbon management.

Compared to other technologies based on energy efficiency or geosequestration (capturing GHGs from power stations and pumping them underground), agriculture provides a large-scale, relatively inexpensive and easy-to-implement opportunity for mitigation.

The results will inform farming practices that reduce GHG emissions. By changing current regimes of nitrogenous fertiliser application, tillage, irrigation, and crop selection, farms have the potential to become more sustainable, efficient and profitable. Data from this research will also be used by the National Carbon Accounting System and the Department of Climate Change to estimate GHG emissions from managed land systems.

isr co-ordinated projects

Large-scale increases in soil carbon storages under grazing systems to offset Queensland's greenhouse gas emissions (isr, 2010–13) QUT researchers Prof Peter Grace, Dr Richard Conant Funding source/s Queensland Government Smart Futures Fellowships Project snapshot Queensland contributes the largest amount of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) per capita of any state and is one of the highest per capita emitters in the world. Soil carbon sequestration has been proven to provide significant offsets in terms of these emissions. Over the next 40 years, there is the potential for over 4000 Mt (megatonnes) of carbon to be sequestered if improved grazing management is introduced over large areas of the state. Improved estimates of the impact of these management strategies will make a significant contribution to reducing Queensland's GHGs and provide more productive and profitable farms in the face of climate change. Media Prize winner joins uni - Warrnambool Standard A member of a Nobel Prize-winning group, scientist Dr Richard Conant will relocate to Brisbane to become a member of QUT's Institute for Sustainable resources. Author Unknown (16th April 2010) Carbon research coup - Adelaide Advertiser A member of a Nobel Prize-winning group, scientist Dr Richard Conant will become a member of QUT's Institute for Sustainable resources, with a focus on carbon storage on farms. Author Unknown (16th April 2010) Qld: Nobel-winning scientist joins Queensland uni - AAP Newswire, Brisbane Times, Coffs Coast Advocate, Fraser Coast Chronicle, Morning Bulletin, and Sunshine Coast Daily Various articles originally sourced from the Australian Associated Press (AAP) describing Dr Richard Conant becoming a member of QUT's Institute for Sustainable resources. AAP (15th April 2010)

Vice Chancellor’s Post-doctoral Fellowship: Legal Responses to Climate Change (isr, March 2009 – March 2012) QUT researchers Dr Nicola Durrant Funding source/s Vice Chancellor’s Post-doctoral Fellowship Project snapshot The legal response to the impacts of climate change is still very much in its infancy and there is limited governmental awareness of the complexity of translating policy objectives into practice both within Australia and internationally. The aim of this research is to guide appropriate legislative reforms and the creation of effective legal frameworks to respond to the complex challenges posed by climate change. In particular, this research will focus on the development and implementation of effective legal frameworks and measures of two highly significant research areas in climate change, specifically: (1) mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions through effective national and international carbon trading schemes; and (2) implementation of biological and geological sequestration projects in a sustainable manner within Australia. This research will also address the linkages between the two in terms of the treatment of emission reductions from sequestration activities under the proposed future Australian carbon trading scheme (the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme). Research outputs For peer reviewed publications see QUT's ePrints Purchase a copy of the book Durrant, N (2010) Legal Responses to Climate Change, Federation Press, Sydney

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Monitoring terrestrial and aquatic GHG emissions - Wyaralong Dam (isr/FAST, 2010–13) QUT researchers Prof Peter Grace, David Rowlings Funding source/s Queensland Water Infrastructure Pty Ltd Project snapshot The Wyaralong Dam is to be constructed on Teviot Brook, south-west of Brisbane in the area of the Scenic Rim Regional Council. It will play a key role in the development of secure water resources in south-east Queensland. In response to uncertainties surrounding emissions from reservoirs in subtropical areas, a condition of the dam’s construction is the preparation of a research plan, to be implemented upon approval, and targeted at further understanding the role of dams as sinks as well as emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs). By examining emissions in the inundation area both prior to and following flooding, it will be possible to determine the net output of GHGs. isr’s role in the overall program will be to measure the main GHGs (CO2, CH4 and N2O). Griffith University will examine soil and vegetation carbon sinks and carbon flows within the catchment, and outflows of carbon from the catchment.

Integrated data and synthesis framework for reducing N2O emissions from Australian agricultural soils (isr/FAST, 2009–12) QUT researchers Prof. Peter Grace, Dr Clemens Sheer, Prof. Kerrie Mengersen, Prof. Paul Roe Funding source/s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) Project snapshot To understand how changing land use from native vegetation to agriculture has influenced emissions requires information about how and what emissions are produced by various vegetation types and land uses. isr is using manual and automatic sampling to monitor GHGs for a range of sites in southern Queensland to determine their baseline (original) emissions. Land uses include rainforest, cropping, pasture and horticultural sites in the Sunshine Coast region; cotton and wheat cropping systems on the Darling Downs; and native forest and rangelands in the Logan River catchment south of Brisbane. Once ‘baseline’ emission data for a land use is known, various management options can then be examined for reducing GHG emissions including soil amendments (materials added to soil to improve physical properties) and other techniques for reducing nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agricultural soils. Techniques being tested include the addition of biochar to pastures and of nitrogen inhibitors to cropping soils, different fertiliser rates, and types and irrigation regimes in cotton and wheat systems. For more information refer to the N2O Network [external html]

Reducing nitrous oxide emissions in irrigated grains–cotton farming systems (isr, 2009–12) QUT researchers Prof. Peter Grace, Prof. Kerrie Mengersen Funding source/s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Project snapshot Annual farm-based emissions from a representative grains-cotton farming enterprise of 1000 ha have been estimated using the Cotton Greenhouse Gas Calculator (developed by QUT) to exceed 2000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent. Nearly half of these emissions are estimated to be nitrous oxide (N2O). Soils under cotton production are low in organic carbon, requiring significant nitrogen fertilisation. Increased use of alternative sources of nitrogen (grain and manure legumes) could be used to both reduce atmospheric pollution and increased profitability. Developing management strategies using a combination of water, nitrogen and rotation management will have a significant impact on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and also increase profitability through increased nitrogen-use efficiency and reduced nitrogen inputs. The limited dataset currently available for emissions from mixed cotton and grains systems puts the industry at risk with a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme on the horizon. This project will greatly improve understanding of GHG emissions of irrigated cropping systems and identify the best management practices to mitigate emissions and contribute to the development of the National Carbon Accounting System. Media Farm carbon calculator to help track emissions - QUT News Professor Peter Grace explains the workings of the Farming Enterprise Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculator, located on the Institute for Sustainable Resources' website. Grace, P. (25th November 2009) Calculator to help producers reduce emissions - ABC Rural Queensland Audio and short article describing the use of the carbon calculator developed by Professor Peter Grace to help Queensland farmers calculate their carbon emissions. Hall, M. (27th November 2009)

Benchmarking and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving resource use efficiency (isr/FAST, 2007–12) QUT researchers Prof. Peter Grace Funding source/s Cottons Research & Development Corporation (CRDC)

isr-linked project

An integrated legal regime for a sustainable carbon cycle (isr/Faculty of Law, 2010–12) Funding source/s ARC Discovery Project Project team CIs Professors Sharon Christensen, Douglas Fisher and Bill Duncan; Dr Nicola Durrant (ECR) (QUT Faculty of Law) and A/Prof Pam O’Connor (Monash) Project description This project will investigate the legal treatment of carbon throughout the ‘carbon cycle’ from mineral exploitation and energy production through to biological sequestration, geological sequestration and carbon trading.

Sustainability-linked Greenhouse Gas Management projects