Nationals leader David Littleproud says it would be ‘insanity’ for Australia to sign on to plan to cut methane emissions

The previous government under Scott Morrison refused to cut Australia’s methane emissions this decade despite close to 100 countries backing the plan led by the European Union and US President Joe Biden.

Mr Biden described the Global Methane Pledge as a “game changing commitment” that will prevent global warming.

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“One of the most important things we can do between now and 2030, to keep 1.5C in reach, is reduce our methane emissions as soon as possible,” he told the world leaders at the Glasgow climate summit last year.

However the new Resources Minister Madeleine King confirmed last week that the Albanese government is considering signing on to the global pledge.

“We are looking at the global methane pledge seriously and we are also taking consultation seriously, because our resources and agriculture export industries are very important to the economy, and they deserve to be respected and not have shocks put on them,” she told The Guardian.

Methane, generated in cows’ digestive systems, in landfill waste and in oil and gas production, is short-lived in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide but was 80 times more potent in warming the Earth.

Mr Littleproud said the move would be “insanity” and would result in more expensive prices at the checkout for Australians.

“If you’re going to put a tax on farmers, they’ll reduce the number of herd that they have,” Mr Littleproud told Sky News Australia.

“This is insanity. I’ve asked for the Labor Party to come clean as to whether they’re going to commit to a 30 per cent reduction.

“It means less stock and if there’s less stock it means your price goes up at the checkout.”

Earlier this month New Zealand revealed it could put a tax on livestock for belching, in an attempt to tackle methane emissions.

Mr Littleproud urged Australia not to follow the lead from New Zealand.

“Don’t go down a rabbit whole you don’t need to, it should be part of total emissions,” he said.

“No one has solved it in the world, New Zealand has made a token gesture at this.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this month announced the government is targeting a 43 per cent cut to emissions by 2030.

He said the nation was changing its target to achieve a more substantial emissions cut by the end of the decade compared to what was previously committed to by the Coalition.

“When I’ve spoken with international leaders in the last few weeks, they have all welcomed Australia’s changed position. Our changed position of 43 per cent, up by 17 to 15 per cent, from the 26 to 28 per cent target that has remained there since Tony Abbott determined it in 2015,” he said.

“Scott Morrison went to the Glasgow Conference last year and gave an empty speech to an empty room with no changed position.

“We saw a pamphlet released by a former government rather than a policy framework and we continued to see arguments, even during the election campaign, about the science of climate change, let alone the need to act.”