What does climate change have to do with primary industries?
Our primary industries provide us with the bulk of our energy supplies, the foods for our daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the fibres and materials for the clothes we wear and the furniture we use. These industries have also become more aware of their environmental responsibilities and of the risks to the industries posed by climate change. They are acting to reduce their emissions and are working on implementing measures to adapt to future climate challenges as well as helping to offset the emissions of other sectors.
- Agriculture
It is likely that established farming practices will need to be altered as weather patterns change. Things like the 'planting window', i.e. the optimal time to sow a crop when conditions are right, and the length of the growing season will change. Potential further water shortages as a result of prolonged droughts will impact irrigated crops. There will also be impacts to livestock, which will likely suffer from increasing heat stress, affecting their growth rates, egg and milk production and reproduction.1 - Forestry
Growth rates of forests may actually be enhanced due to the additional CO2 in the air, but growth will be limited by the availability of water and nutrients. - Minerals and petroleum
As suppliers of the natural resources to energy producers, there is perhaps the greatest scope for reducing or mitigating emissions. This sector is also likely to be affected by the restricted availability of water. - Fisheries
Healthy fish production relies on the healthy state of estuarine and marine production systems. A rising sea level, reduced stream flows, salt water incursion into estuaries and increasing acidity of ocean waters is likely to impact the food chain and thus fish stocks.
With awareness and research there are opportunities to reduce the severity of the likely impacts of climate change on primary producers, provided that these strategies begin to be adopted now.
Read more about these industry areas to find out how primary producers are adopting the means to reduce their greenhouse gas contributions for the future.
Return to What is climate change?.
1R Fowler, 'Climate change for educators', Presentation, NSW Department of Primary Industries, October 2008.