Australian farmers warn PM not to rush into Biden’s global methane pledge

The National Farmers’ Federation said it would ‘vigorously’ oppose Australia signing up to the US’s push to cut global methane pledge if it resulted in plans to ‘cut agricultural production or livestock numbers, especially at a time of record food prices’. Photograph: Dan Peled/The Guardian

The National Farmers’ Federation has warned the Albanese government not to rush any plan to sign on to Joe Biden’s global methane pledge, declaring the consequences of such a decision taken on the fly “could be calamitous”.

Australia’s resources minister, Madeleine King, revealed on Thursday the new government was considering signing the push to limit global methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by the end of the decade – an initiative Scott Morrison declined to join.