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Australia signs up to global methanepledge

The Albanese governmenthas pledged to join other developed countries such as the United States, theUnited Kingdom and the European Union to cut global methaneemissions by 30 per cent on 2020 levels by 2030.

The move will put furtherpressure on the Coalition and its energy and climate policies after Laborcommitted to increasing Australia’s emissions reduction target to 43 percent by the end of the decade.

Federal Energy and Climate ChangeMinister Chris Bowen on Sunday announced $5 million in grants to help developlow-emissions food supplements for cattle.

While the agricultural sectorremains concerned about the impact of the commitment on their business, MrBowen was at pains to point out the 2030 target was a voluntary “aspirational”global commitment.

“This does not require Australiato reduce our own emissions by 30 per cent,” he said.

“It requires us to reduce ouremissions as much as possible and contribute to a 30 per cent global reduction,and improve our measurement. All signatories have to ensure the measurement ofmethane is up to international best standard which is what we continue to do.”

Mr Bowen said the federalgovernment investment would include up to $3 billion from the $15 billionNational Reconstruction Fund to support investment in low emissionstechnologies and component manufacturing and agricultural methane reduction.

The Commonwealth has alsocommitted $8 million for the seaweed industry to support commercialisation ofthe low-emissions livestock feed supplement asparagopsis.

The second stage of the MethaneEmissions Reduction in Livestock Program will also provide $5 million infunding to develop technologies to deliver low-emission feed supplements tograzing animals and determine their technical viability and commercialpotential.

National Farmers Federation chiefexecutive Tony Mahar said the sector was committed to sustainability, even ifsome farmers had raised concerns about the costs of the new eco-friendly foodsupplements.

“We understand some in ourindustry are concerned what impact this will have on farming businesses,” hesaid.

“We take these concerns seriouslyand have raised them with the federal government, receiving assurances farmerswill not be adversely impacted by Australia signing the pledge.”

Mr Maher said the farming sectorwould ensure signing up to the global pledge did not hurt Australia’smultibillion-dollar export industry.

“Australian agriculture cannotand will not tolerate interventions like the New Zealand or Netherlandsgovernments are implementing which target and undermine agriculture’sproductivity,” he said.

“Farmers have been givenassurances there will be no new taxes or regulation on livestock methane, andno reduction to agricultural production nor livestock numbers.”

Mr Bowen said the methane pledgedid not require Australia to focus solely on agriculture, or reduceagricultural production or livestock numbers.

Nationals leader DavidLittleproud recently called on the federal government to walk away from theglobal methane pledge, saying it would drive-up the cost of meat and “endBBQs”.

But the Australian PetroleumProduction & Exploration Association said the Albanesegovernment’s decision to sign the global methane pledge was an important stepin the emissions reduction pathway to net zero.

It comes as Nyrstar Australiawelcomed the $50 million in Commonwealth funding to be included in Tuesday’sbudget towards construction of a new $400 million electrolysis plant in Hobart.

“This secures the long-termsustainability of 1300 direct jobs and over 5000 indirect jobs in Hobart andthrough Nyrstar’s interlinked operations in Port Pirie in South Australia,”Nyrstar Australia’s vice-president Dale Webb said.

The Australian Financial Review