Australian MP Barnaby Joyce: to reduce methane emissions will have to shoot cows

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce called slaughtering the only way to cut methane levels in the country. The parliamentarian and leader of the National Party believes that in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030, you will have to "take a rifle and shoot cows." 

According to Joyce, saving the planet will undermine the well-being of many regions that live off agriculture. A similar position is shared by the Minister of Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor. He said that at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November, the country would formally waive its commitment to eliminate methane emissions by the end of the decade. Taylor fears that the fight against greenhouse gas emissions will destroy the cattle and MEAT industries, and then lead to a significant reduction in coal and gas production.

Joyce believes he was the one who suggested to Prime Minister Scott Morrison that the methane target be removed from the 2050 climate strategy. However, the HEAD of government noted that negotiations with the parliamentarian did not affect his decision in any way, and there was no section on agriculture in the plan from the very beginning.

The company Climate Analytics considered false the assumption that the country will stop producing beef because of promises on the amount of methane emissions. Thus, the authorities allegedly want to "hide inaction in the field of fossil fuels." Analysts cite data as an argument - the Australian agricultural industry has already reduced emissions by 16 percent compared to 2005. Every year, local farms will emit 1.2 percent less methane into the atmosphere.

The Australian government earlier in October released a goal to achieve carbon neutrality (full offsetting of carbon dioxide emissions) by 2050. An action plan that would achieve the intended results was never presented by Scott Morrison. However, the Prime Minister promised not to close coal mines for as long as possible, so as not to undermine economic well-being.