Australia opposes joint EU-US commitments to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030, seeking to protect gas, agriculture and livestock with this policy (cattle and sheep), its open coal mines and its economy in general.
The US and the EU wanted such an agreement before the start of the United Nations Summit on Climate Change, which took place on 31-10-2020, in Glasgow, United Kingdom.
New Zealand, which intends to sign these commitments, is at odds with Australia. Methane emissions – from natural gas, open pit mines, cattle and sheep – are considered to be the second most important cause of climate change, after carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Methane traps more heat than carbon dioxide. However, it dissolves faster in the atmosphere.
Political consensus is lacking
The decision of the coalition government of Australia, as if not to sign these commitments to reduce methane emissions, is also due to the fact that it wants to achieve the consensus of the coalition, the National Party, on climate neutrality by 2050.
The Australian National Party, a partner in the Australian coalition government, has a large electoral base among Australians living in the countryside, farmers, ranchers and miners.
Australian National Party leader Barnaby Joyce said Australia should be excluded from its methane reduction commitments, as otherwise the livestock, dairy and coal mining sectors would be destroyed, and coal mining would be at a huge political cost to his party.
