Australia's Albanese Government Rules Out Endorsing Global Methane Declaration

A new international declaration, released at the COP31 climate summit in Turkiye, calls on governments to implement policies and regulations to reduce methane emissions in major sectors, including agriculture. Following a ministerial meeting convened by the European Commission, the Albanese government ruled out endorsing this declaration. The government confirmed that existing methane commitments given to farmers when Australia joined the original Global Methane Pledge in 2022 remain intact.

The declaration mandates that governments turn voluntary methane commitments into measurable reductions through domestic policies. Since agriculture accounts for 40% of global human-caused methane, including 32% from livestock, the push for new regulations could impact agricultural production and costs in Australia.

The European Commission is actively seeking new trade partners and diversifying its economic ties due to tensions and imbalances with major economies like Russia, China, and the US.