PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Australia has joined over 120 countries committed to collectively reduce global methane emissions across the energy and resources, agriculture and waste sectors. 

The Global Methane Pledge is a voluntary commitment with 122 signatories including the US, the UK and the European Union working collectively to reduce global methane emissions across all sectors by at least 30% below 2020 levels by 2030. 

Signatories to the non-binding pledge commit to taking a range of domestic actions such as standards for reducing emissions in the energy and waste sectors, and seeking abatement opportunities in the agricultural sector through technology and partnerships with farmers. 

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the Pledge promotes an aspirational global target for countries to work together to reduce global methane emissions.

“The Australian government will continue to partner with industry to decarbonise the economy and pursue emissions reduction initiatives across energy and waste sectors including capturing waste methane to generate electricity,” Bowen said. 

"By joining the Pledge, Australia will join the rest of the world’s major agricultural commodity exporters including the US, Brazil, and Indonesia in identifying opportunities to reduce emissions in this hard-to-abate sector.” 

Australian government investment will include up to A$3-billion from the A$15-billion National Reconstruction Fund to support investment in, for example, low emissions technologies and component manufacturing and agricultural methane reduction. 

Under the Powering Australia plan, the government has also committed A$8-million for the seaweed industry to support commercialisation of the low-emissions livestock feed supplement Asparagopsis. 

The second stage of the Methane Emissions Reduction in Livestock Program will provide A$5-million in funding to develop technologies to deliver low emission feed supplements to grazing animals and determine their technical viability and commercial potential.

Reforms to the Safeguard Mechanism will support emissions reductions in the industrial sector, including reductions of methane emissions from industrial and resource activities, helping to ensure Australian businesses can remain competitive as the world decarbonises. 

The Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (Appea) said that Australia’s decision to sign the Global Methane Pledge is an important step in the emissions reduction pathway to net zero, according to the nation’s oil and gas industry.

The industry body said the sector had worked with the government as part of the consultation process given the industry’s commitments to emissions reduction were consistent with, or went beyond, the Pledge.

“As an industry committed to net zero greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide by 2050, we have worked with the government towards today’s announcement, paving the way towards a cleaner energy future,” Appea CEO Samantha McCulloch said.

“With Australia’s focus on emissions reduction, signing the Pledge is a positive and important step for our country and the world.

“Reducing methane emissions has been a priority of our industry for decades as members monitor, report and reduce their fugitive emissions profile, participating in several global initiatives. A number of Appea members have already committed directly to the Pledge or have emissions reduction targets consistent with, or going beyond, the Pledge.”

McCulloch said that while the greatest sources of methane emissions in Australia are agriculture, coal, land use, and waste, the oil and gas industry continues to take action to measure, monitor and reduce its methane emissions.

“On top of the billions announced for emissions reduction and renewable technologies, our members employ rigorous leak detection and repair programs while monitoring gasfield infrastructure and utilising well integrity processes.”