Australia red meat industry abandons 2030 carbon neutral goal

AUSTRALIA – Australia’s red meat sector is stepping back from its ambitious Carbon Neutral 2030 target, declaring it unattainable within the remaining timeframe.

The target, first set by Meat & Livestock Australia in 2017, aimed for net zero greenhouse gas emissions from beef, lamb, and goat production by 2030.

To guide progress, the Red Meat Advisory Council introduced the Red Meat 2030 plan in 2019, but a recent review concluded the strategy would not meet its intended outcome.

Despite ongoing efforts, the sector is still approximately 90 percent short of achieving carbon neutrality, with fewer than five years left to reach the goal.

Australia has implemented measures such as breeding lower-emission livestock, using methane-reducing feed additives including seaweed, and increasing carbon storage in farmland to reduce emissions.

According to the national science agency CSIRO, emissions from the red meat sector fell by 78 percent between 2005 and 2021, largely due to reduced land clearing and a smaller national herd rather than per-animal emission reductions.

Following a six-month consultation, RMAC updated the plan to reflect changing industry conditions and strategic priorities for the next five years, according to independent chair John McKillop.

McKillop stated that while the sector achieved record export levels in 2024, exceeding US$20 billion, the updated plan now emphasizes productivity and profitability rather than total sales volume.

The council said the revised approach will focus on increasing global market access, lowering emissions intensity per kilogram of meat, enhancing carbon storage, and improving operational efficiency.

Australia currently maintains over 30 million cattle and more than 70 million sheep, positioning it among the world’s largest red meat exporters.

Skepticism among livestock farmers about meeting the 2030 target has grown in recent years, influenced by varied scientific findings on greenhouse gas accounting.

Adam Coffey, vice-president of Cattle Australia, emphasized that the sector’s commitment to emissions reduction remains, but pursuing an unachievable target risks misrepresenting livestock’s role in climate change.

Coffey added that Australian grassfed production is already effectively climate neutral, and further interventions can remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than is emitted.

The industry plans to continue investing in carbon storage and emissions avoidance initiatives while contributing to Australia’s broader goal of net zero emissions by 2050 under the Paris Agreement.

Collaboration with organizations such as Zero Net Emissions for Agriculture CRC will support the sector’s efforts to reduce emissions intensity while maintaining herd and flock productivity.

Experts in the United States note that “climate neutral” differs from “carbon neutral,” and continuous improvement through efficient herd management and grazing practices remains the industry’s preferred approach.

US industry leaders say target adjustments reflect political and environmental realities but maintain that long-term goals and steady progress remain the central focus of the cattle industry.

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