Why don't we all just jump off a cliff, The Sydney Morning Herald is now crying that because of the rain our emissions will go up..
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Drought-breaking rain likely to cause greenhouse emissions to rise
By Mike FoleyJanuary 16, 2020 — 9.30pm
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Australia's greenhouse gas emissions are likely to rise if there is a break in the intense drought in eastern Australia, sinking the Morrison government's goal of lowering emissions in the short term.
The agriculture sector did most of the heavy lifting in emissions reduction in the year ending May 2019,
falling by 4.2 million tonnes to 67.4 million tonnes. It reduced the sector's greenhouse contribution by 5.87 per cent, compared to the electricity sector's 1.15 per cent reduction.
"That big drop in agriculture was twice the emissions reduction that came from the record rollout of renewables. But it's all built on the suffering of Australia's farmers under drought," Climate Council senior researcher Tim Baxter said.
The weather outlook is improving and the livestock sector is poised to rebound swiftly when the drought breaks.
"A break in the drought could push our emissions so they are again trending upwards," Australian National University Climate Change Institute Professor Mark Howden said.
Australia's national emissions hit a low of 528 million tonnes in 2016 and have remained between 533 and 532 million tonnes since 2017.
Professor Howden said while Australia's emissions were "almost flatlining", when the drought finally broke livestock emissions would likely rise by 4 million tonnes a year.
"Farmers will as quickly as possible build up their breeding herd and this will result in a rapid increase in recorded greenhouse gas emissions," he said.
"During drought animals' feed intake is likely to have dropped and that further reduces emissions. When it breaks cattle are likely to eat a lot more and increase emissions."
Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor said growth in farm greenhouse gases wouldn't force Australia to break its Paris commitment.
In December Mr Taylor announced
new projections showing for the first time Australia is on track to meet its emissions reduction targets under the Paris climate agreement.
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