Australian red meat industry has recorded 78% reduction in emissions since 2005, industry report found

The net carbon emissions from the Australian cattle industry in 2021 were equivalent to 31m tonnes of carbon dioxide, according to a report commissioned by Meat and Livestock Australia. Photograph: Aston Brown/The Guardian

The Australian red meat industry has recorded a 78% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions since 2005 due to reduced rates of land clearing and increased forest regrowth, a report commissioned by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) has found.

The report, released on Thursday, found that net greenhouse gas emissions from the red meat industry were equivalent to 31m tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2021.