Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture
The agriculture sector is Australia's largest source of methane and nitrous oxide emissions. These emissions stem primarily from:
- enteric fermentation in livestock (methane)
- inefficient use of nitrogen in agricultural soils (nitrous oxide)
- the burning of savannas (methane and nitrous oxide)
- and smaller contributions from manure management, rice cultivation and the field burning of agricultural residues.
Emissions from livestock and agricultural soils represent a loss of valuable carbon and nitrogen resources. For example, it is estimated that methane emissions from livestock represent a loss of up to 15% of potential energy that could otherwise be used for animal production. Similarly the loss of nitrous oxide from soils represents a loss of valuable nitrogen that could otherwise be used for plant production.
Reductions in agricultural emissions will therefore also lead to productivity benefits for agricultural industries, and provide a win-win for agricultural production and environmental sustainability.
In partnership with industry, the Australian Government will undertake research and development to address the reduction of methane from livestock systems and nitrous oxide from land managed systems.
Australia's National Greenhouse Accounts
Information about greenhouse gas emissions from the agriculture sector and the methods used for the estimation of emissions at a national scale is available Australia's National Greenhouse Accounts.
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