Reducing Greenhouse Gases In Australia's Livestock Industries

October 1, 1999 The Rural News

The Bureau of Rural Sciences (BRS) recently launched a publication that highlights the role Australia's livestock industries can play in helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Meeting the Kyoto Target Implications for the Australian Livestock Industries details the outcomes of a two-day workshop organised by BRS.

BRS executive director Dr Peter O'Brien said the publication would help inform industry policy-makers and scientists about the way Australian livestock industries can help Australia meet its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.

"Australia's livestock sector contributes around 12 to 14 per cent of our greenhouse gas emissions," Dr O'Brien said.

"This is considerably higher than most other developed nations, where the figure is around 3 to 4 per cent.

"It also makes the sector Australia's third largest source of greenhouse gases after the energy and transport sectors. Unfortunately, most of the attention has traditionally been on those sectors, with a limited focus also on land clearing.

"Under the Kyoto Protocol, Australia must meet an emissions target for the period 2008-2012 of 108 per cent of the net emissions in 1990.

Current projections of industry growth suggest it may be possible for the livestock sector to meet this target," Dr O'Brien said.