Greenhouse gas emissions down 2 per cent in latest figures

Tougher conditions have produced one good outcome for agriculture – lower greenhouse gas emissions.

A tough season across parts of Australia last year appears to have produced a silver lining for the climate.

The latest National Greenhouse Gas Inventory quarterly update showed that to the end of September last year, emissions from agriculture were down 2 per cent.

The inventory showed agriculture still accounted for 19.2 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions but there was a decrease in ‘actual terms’ over the year due to decreased crop production and shrinking livestock numbers, resulting in the 2 per cent drop in emissions.

But the assessment from the Departement of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water said agricultural emissions would have fallen further but for increased emissions from feedlot cattle.

“Favourable conditions brought record crop production in 2022-23, with an associated increase in emissions from crop residues and fertiliser use,” the report found.

“Both are estimated to have fallen in 2023-2024.”

By comparison, agriculture accounted for 17.9 per cent of Australia’s national greenhouse gas emissions in the 12 months to September 2023, a lift of 2.4 per cent on the previous year.

Overall for Australia, emissions were down 0.5 per cent to 434.9 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents – and while agriculture’s emissions were down, it was not the same story for all industries.

Emissions were up 2.1 per cent for the transport sector (which accounts for 22.8 per cent of total emissions), and electricity emissions (35.1 per cent of total emissions) were was up 1.5 per cent.

Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions are now 29 per cent below June 2005 levels, the base year for the nation’s 43 per cent reduction by 2030 under the Paris Agreement.

Estimates for total emissions until the end of 2024 are 436 million tonnes CO2 equivalent, an increase of 0.3 per cent on the pervious 12-month period.

The report said that increases in electricity, transport and fugitive emissions sectors had offset decreases in the industrial processes, stationary energy and agriculture sectors.