Australia is set to pledge its support to reduce global methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030.
The move is in contrast to the former Coalition government, which refused to sign up to the target, which is already supported by the United States and the European Union.
At the time, the then-deputy prime minister suggested the methane commitment would see farmers being forced to kill their cattle.
"The only way you can get your 30 per cent by 2030 reduction of methane on 2020 levels would be to grab a rifle and go out and shoot your cattle," Barnaby Joyce said in October last year.
At that time, the decision not to sign on to the pledge was publicly supported by the Labor opposition.
Now in government, Labor Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said he supported the target.
"This methane pledge is an aspirational goal from the world to bring down our methane emissions, which is something not only that I support but that most farm groups support," Senator Watt said on Thursday morning.
"We're certainly considering it … I'm certainly comfortable if we sign up to it.
"We haven't made that announcement at this point, we are still consulting with groups."
The minister's comments pave the way for a formal commitment by the federal government ahead of a global climate summit in Egypt in November.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and about half of Australia's methane emissions come from the agriculture sector.
Senator Watt said farmers have told him they were comfortable with the government making the commitment.
"One of the things that industry has been saying to me is that they're actually quite comfortable with these things, especially if government is prepared to provide support such as support for the expanded use of asparagopsis, the seaweed that can help bring down methane," he said.
"There was a lot of consternation about this from the former government in the lead-up to the last COP meeting in Glasgow and we were all being told we'd have to cut our methane emissions by a certain amount and that meant reducing herd size and shooting livestock that is just absolute crap."
Farmers say work to reduce emissions underway
National Farmers' Federation chief executive Tony Mahar said farmers were already working to reduce emissions.
"We won't support any outcome that would lead to a reduction in livestock numbers and we've had assurance from government on that front," he said.
"For agriculture, the best way to reduce emissions further is to arm us with cost-effective technology solutions, not to pursue punitive taxes of regulate farmers out of existence.
"Given the number of sectors that emit methane, any implementation measures can't simply be targeted at agriculture."
The Australian Conservation Foundation's Suzanne Harter said it was important gas companies were part of any commitment to reduce methane.
"Cutting fugitive methane emissions is low-hanging fruit, some of this problem stems from gas companies venting methane into the atmosphere," Ms Harter said.
Green leader Adam Bandt supported the pledge and again called on the government to put a stop to any new coal or gas projects.
"The pledge is aimed at the tax-dodging coal and gas corporations, not cows and agriculture," Mr Bandt said.
Pledge will drive prices up, Nationals say
Nationals leader and shadow agriculture minister David Littleproud said signing on to the pledge would drive up the cost of meat in Australia.
"We do not want to see the Aussie BBQ available to only the rich – we urge Labor to reject the methane madness idea and embrace the Aussie BBQ spirit instead of destroy it."
More than 100 countries have signed on to the pledge.
New Zealand is preparing to introduce a methane tax on its livestock sector from 2025.
In that country, farm industries put a proposal to the government about how to proceed with the methane tax.
This week, the NZ government said it would largely adopt the farm sector's proposal about pricing emissions on farm.
"This is an important step forward in New Zealand's transition to a low emissions future and delivers on our promise to price agriculture emissions from 2025," NZ prime minister Jacinda Ardern said this week.
"The proposal would see New Zealand farmers lead the world in reducing emissions, delivering a competitive advantage and enhancing our export brand.
"No other country in the world has yet developed a system for pricing and reducing agricultural emissions, so our farmers are set to benefit from being first movers."
The Australian government has repeatedly ruled out introducing such a scheme in Australia.
