Australia’s red meat industry drops its 2030 carbon neutrality goal

AUSTRALIA – Australia’s peak livestock industry body has officially dropped its plan to make the red meat sector carbon neutral by 2030.

The decision comes as Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) released its long-term strategy on Tuesday, with the previous emissions target no longer part of its climate roadmap.

MLA’s managing director, Michael Crowley, said the sector could not meet the original timeline, citing a need for more investment, time, and government support.

The move follows a similar decision by the Red Meat Advisory Council, which quietly removed the climate neutrality goal from its strategic plan last week.

The original 2030 target, introduced in 2017, aimed to cut emissions significantly and balance any remaining ones through practices like storing carbon in soil and vegetation.

Since then, the industry has tested several strategies to cut methane emissions, including feeding cattle seaweed-based supplements and breeding livestock that naturally produce less gas.

It has also worked on ways to boost carbon absorption in soils through improved land management.

However, the drop in emissions recorded by 2021 – about 78% lower than in 2005 – was largely the result of reduced land clearing and a smaller animal population, rather than lower emissions from individual animals.

Despite falling short of full neutrality, Crowley said the industry could still achieve 80% to 90% of its original goal by 2030 if research outcomes are scaled into action.

He added that the target had helped attract over US$66 million (A$100 million) in sustainability funding, and the organisation would continue working to lower emissions per kilogram of meat produced.

Australia is one of the top global suppliers of red meat, with over 30 million cattle and more than 70 million sheep, according to figures from MLA.

These animals emit methane during digestion, a greenhouse gas that, while short-lived, is around 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.

Broader Trend of Delayed Climate Goals

The livestock industry’s shift mirrors recent moves by various governments and businesses to relax or delay climate targets under pressure from economic and political challenges.

While MLA has dropped the deadline, it maintains that reducing emissions remains a priority and will continue to focus on sustainable production practices moving forward.

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