Freehills received recognition as a Landcare Foundation Partner last Thursday evening at the biennial National Landcare Awards hosted by Landcare Australia in the Great Hall at Parliament House in Canberra. The award is in recognition of Freehills’ significant contribution to protecting Australia’s land and water resources.
The ceremony and dinner was attended by Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett, and by the Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water, Greg Hunt.
Freehills has acted on a pro bono basis for Landcare Australia Limited for more than 18 years. Freehills played a central role in developing and establishing Landcare’s CarbonSMART carbon trading initiative. The award recognises Freehills as a Foundation Partner for this particular contribution.
Landcare CarbonSMART was developed in response to a growing demand from landholders and corporates to work together to offset carbon emissions. The initiative encourages Australian landowners to fight climate change by paying them to grow and maintain trees. CarbonSMART was launched in March 2007 and now operates in all states and territories.
Landcare’s CarbonSMART initiative is one of only two Australian carbon sequestration programs to be accredited under both the Federal Government’s Greenhouse Friendly Program and the NSW Government’s Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme.
Freehills’ Consultant John Taberner has recently been appointed to the Board of Landcare CarbonSMART Pty Limited.
In speaking of the award, presented by Landcare’s Ambassador Jack Thompson, John Taberner said: “Freehills is very proud of its long association with Landcare Australia and holds great hopes for the success of the Landcare CarbonSMART initiative. Landcare is well placed to take advantage of the business and environmental opportunities which will arise under the Federal Governments proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.” John Taberner also recognised the important role played by his colleagues Jason Johnston and Kirsty Campbell in establishing Landcare’s CarbonSMART initiative.
Sponsors of the National Landcare Awards included the Australian Government, Rio Tinto Alcan, Alcoa, Leighton Holdings, Murray Darling Basin Commission, Westpac, Rural Press and Landcare CarbonSMART.
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