Agriculture’s carbon emissions rise to near 20-year high

Agriculture’s post-drought recovery has created a bigger carbon footprint, with rising emissions being blamed on increased crop production and animal restocking.

Australian agriculture’s post-drought recovery has come at a cost, with the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions rising to their highest levels in almost two decades.

The latest quarterly update of Australia’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory attributed the surge to farmers planting more crops, increasing fertiliser use and residues, and growing livestock herds and flocks.

Overall, agriculture accounted for 16.6 per cent of Australia’s total emissions inventory, up 3.2 per cent, in the 12 months to September 2022.

In real terms, this was an increase from 78.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents in September 2021 to 81.4mtCO2e up to the same time last year.

However, the level had dropped to 66.4mtCO2e in the year to September 2019 after reaching 87.9mtCO2e in 2005.

Agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions have risen largely due to the nation’s post-drought recovery driving up livestock numbers and crop production. Picture: Nicole Cleary

The national inventory of greenhouse gas emissions was estimated to be 490.5mtCO2e to September 2022, with electricity remaining the largest contributor at 32 per cent, or 162mtCO2e.

This was followed by stationary energy, such as fuel combustion and LNG production, at 104mtCO2e, and transport, at 93mtCO2e, with its 4 per cent emission increase reflecting the end to Covid-related travel restrictions.

The report also predicted the favourable conditions that increased agricultural emissions in 2021-22 will continue into 2022-23 for both crop production and herd and flock numbers.

Agricultural emissions include methane and nitrous oxide mainly from livestock and rice cultivation and burning of field residues and carbon dioxide from fertilisers.

Farmers for Climate Action chief executive Fiona Davis said the results highlighted the need for a national approach to climate change and agriculture to ensure the industry was not left behind as other sectors of the economy decarbonised.

“We are keen to see more investment in low-carbon fertiliser options, as well as electric on-farm vehicles to ensure agriculture’s emissions continue to decline whatever the season,” she said.

“The government has invested in other technologies, such as asparagopsis to lower the methane produced by cows, and this will start having an impact in the coming decades.”

Meanwhile, diesel consumption has almost doubled since 2005, with use primarily driven by resources activity.