Environmental Policies

WFA has adopted the following environmental policies

Genetically Modified Organisms Policy Statement – view as PDF

National Water Policy

• That water access entitlements be more clearly specified;
• That water access entitlements be perpetual;
• That water access entitlements be separated from land title;
• That constraints on water trade within and between regions and states be minimised;
• That where governments require water for environmental or other purposes they acquire it on the open market and pay fair market rates for it; and
• That before any changes to the way that water is managed are made that appropriate consideration be given to the environmental and social impacts at the regional level.

Climate Change Policy

• Minimise emissions of greenhouse gases across all stages of production
• Recognise that large changes to the greenhouse gas contributions of the Australian wine industry are likely to have little impact on climate change
• Develop methods to more accurately assess the extent to which climate change would impact on wine grape production at a regional level
• Develop methods to enable the Australian wine industry to accommodate expected climate change
• Encourage all tiers of government to adopt a consistent approach to greenhouse gas and climate change including adaptation strategies
• Encourage Australian governments to use a broad range of mechanisms (from regulatory to market mechanisms) to manage climate change/ greenhouse gas contributions eg pricing, tradable quotas, offsets
• Encourage Australian governments to subject all climate change / greenhouse gas policies to rigorous economic assessment to determine the impact on regional, state and national economies

Biodiversity Policy

• The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia recognises the value of biodiversity in maintaining productivity and ecosystem health.
• WFA acknowledges that biodiversity is relevant at many scales - from soil fauna and flora, through to groundcover species on the vineyard floor and stands of native vegetation providing valuable habitat in the productive agricultural landscape.
• Vineyards have historically been established on land already modified for agricultural production, such as grazing, cropping and dairy. Although the wine industry has not been directly responsible for the clearing of large tracts of native vegetation, the industry does accept a role in reinstating areas of native habitat in the landscape.
• WFA recognises that biodiversity can be reinstated by activities including the use of native groundcover species on the vineyard floor, financial and in-kind investment in the establishment of regional vegetation corridors, and the protection of healthy natural waterways.