Red Meat 2030 Zero Emissions Goal Abandoned
- Future Accounting
- Jul 15
- 3 min read
Why the Red Meat Industry Ditched Its 2030 Net-Zero Goal
In a major back-flip, the Australian red meat industry has officially abandoned its Red Meat 2030 Zero Emissions target - a goal once hailed as a global first. The decision follows a review by the Red Meat Advisory Council (RMAC), which concluded the 2030 deadline was no longer achievable.
Originally announced by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) in 2017 and adopted across the industry in 2019, the net-zero pledge was built on optimism, innovation, and growing public pressure to reduce agricultural emissions.
RMAC Chair John McKillop recently stated, "We just, quite frankly, realised we're not going to get to carbon neutral by 2030... There's no point in continuing on blindly having a target that we know we're not going to reach."
What Went Wrong with the Red Meat 2030 Zero Emissions Goal?
The challenges to meeting the target are multifaceted:
Lack of accurate data and modelling: Current methods for calculating emissions intensity (EI) - the emissions produced per unit of livestock product - often skew results. For example, sheep can appear to have higher EI than cattle due to their smaller size, even though they also produce wool and reproduce more efficiently.
Inadequate accounting methods: Relying solely on live weight overlooks key outputs like wool and fails to reflect the diverse management practices across farms.
Emissions measurement complexity: Agricultural emissions span all three scopes:
Scope 1: Direct farm emissions (e.g., livestock methane, diesel fuel).
Scope 2: Purchased electricity used on farms.
Scope 3: Everything from fertiliser production to livestock feed and waste - which are the hardest to track.
Time-frame mismatch: The scientific and technological changes needed for net-zero were always going to take more than a decade to embed across such a large and complex sector.
Understanding Agricultural Emissions
The main greenhouse gases produced in agriculture are:
Carbon Dioxide (CO₂): From fuel use, deforestation, and soil degradation.
Methane (CH₄): From livestock digestion and manure.
Nitrous Oxide (N₂O): From fertilisers and soil management.
These contribute to the broader set of seven GHGs identified as climate threats, alongside synthetic gases used in industry and refrigeration.
What Happens Now for the Red Meat Sector?
While the Red Meat 2030 Zero Emissions target is no longer in place, the industry isn’t walking away from climate action altogether. RMAC has requested that Meat and Livestock Australia undertake comprehensive new modelling of emissions intensity.
This will take at least 12 months and will form the basis of revised five- and 10-year targets.
Importantly, future models will need to account for:
Dual-purpose animals (meat and wool)
Regional differences in farming systems
Diverse management practices and technologies
A shift away from one-size-fits-all metrics like live weight
More accurate models are expected to provide a realistic pathway to lower emissions without unrealistic timelines or damaging the industry’s productivity.
Conclusion: Resetting the Path to Sustainability
The decision to abandon the Red Meat 2030 Zero Emissions target isn’t an end - it’s a pivot. With better data, fairer modelling, and more time, Australia’s red meat sector still has the potential to lead in low-emissions food production. The next set of targets will need to strike a smarter balance between ambition and being achievable - one that supports producers, protects the environment, and rebuilds public trust.
If you're unsure how these changes impact your farm or business, get in touch with us. As your trusted advisor in agricultural compliance, carbon accounting, and sustainability strategy, we're here to help you understand your emissions profile, access the latest tools, and prepare for what's next.
Future Accounting work with our Agribusiness clients turning Carbon uncertainty into opportunity. To find out more about your carbon reporting responsibilities or carbon opportunities reach out today.
