Professor John FitzGerald:

Regarding agriculture, methane is different from carbon dioxide in that methane disappears after 12 years but carbon dioxide remains forever.

If we make a mistake and emit too much carbon dioxide today getting that back would be very difficult: in methane it is easier because one makes a change in the future. Agriculture is lower in terms of priorities. Dealing with the problem of carbon dioxide is the top priority.

In terms of agriculture, I take Deputy Deering's point on the need for a carrot and stick approach. What is interesting in the research that I have seen on changes in land use is that it is not the carrots and sticks but other problems that farmers face in changing land use, such that the policies needed in this area will be different from those needed elsewhere. There will have to be some sticks. We have not suggested a methane tax on the herd. This would not be where I would begin, and I am not sure this is where I would end either.