AUSTRALIA is lobbying for changes to global greenhouse accounting rules to allow it to count more of its carbon storage in soils, trees and biochar.
The Rudd Government has been pursuing the options, despite publicly criticising Malcolm Turnbull for pinning too much hope on the biosequestration techniques.
A spokeswoman for Climate Change Minister Penny Wong said yesterday Australia was pressing for "a comprehensive and sound approach" to include land-management activities in future climate change negotiations. "This could potentially include biochar storage in soils," the spokeswoman said.
EDIT
Australia decided against counting its farming land emissions towards its greenhouse targets in the Kyoto pact, partly because of concerns that uncontrollable natural events such as bushfires could blow its carbon budget. In doing so, it had to forgo the opportunity to offset its emissions by storing more carbon in agricultural lands.
EDIT
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25107838-11949,00.html