The government has released the Net Zero Plan and six sector plans to guide Australia’s transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Agriculture and Land Sector Plan explores the opportunities for farmers and land managers to contribute, with a strong focus on ensuring Australian agriculture remains a global leader in the production of low emissions food and fibre. The sector plan identifies the importance of understanding emissions at the enterprise and national level as one of four foundational areas for action.
Taking action
Trusted and easy-to-use greenhouse gas (GHG) calculators are becoming an essential part of doing business for producers. To address stakeholder feedback on the inconsistencies among the range of GHG emissions calculators available, the Australian Government announced $28.7 million in funding in the 2024-25 Budget. This funding will support improvements in GHG accounting at the national through to farm level by:
- Enhancing the National Greenhouse Accounts methods and data collection processes (led by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)).
- Developing, publishing and maintaining voluntary GHG emissions estimation and reporting ‘standards’ (guidelines) for agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries (led by DCCEEW).
- Facilitating the integration of those guidelines into new and existing farm-level GHG emissions calculators and tools (including to reflect any updates over time) (led by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)).
The desired outcome of the DAFF-led element is to increase the proportion of producers that know and understand their business’ net emissions profile, and the on-farm activities and practices that affect their net emissions.
DAFF is delivering this element through a grant to Agricultural Innovation Australia, in partnership with the Zero-Net Emissions – Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre, under the Improving Consistency of On-farm Emissions Estimates program.
GHG Emissions Estimation and Reporting Guidelines
The Australian Government is developing guidelines to improve the quality and consistency of GHG accounting methods—and, by extension, the consistency and quality of the emissions estimates calculated by the GHG accounting tools primary producers rely on. The Guidelines are being developed in two tranches. Tranche 1 includes:
- guidance for entities to produce an emissions inventory
- detailed methods and data needed to calculate emissions from beef, sheep, dairy and cropping industries, designed for technical users such as emissions calculator providers, agronomists and agricultural consultants.
Have your say
DCCEEW is currently seeking feedback on Tranche 1 of the guidelines. Public consultation closes on 19 December 2025. To have your say on the guidelines, please visit the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Voluntary Emissions Estimation and Reporting Standards Reference Group
The Australian Government has established a Voluntary Emissions Estimation and Reporting Standards Reference Group. This group provides guidance and advice on:
- the development of guidelines for agriculture, fishery and forestry
- stakeholder needs for incorporation of guidelines into GHG calculators and accounting tools.
The Reference Group is co-chaired by DCCEEW and the Zero Net Emissions from Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre. It includes representatives from industry, the supply chain, finance sector, First Nations groups, agricultural service providers and researchers.
For further information on the Reference Group (including membership) and the guidelines, please visit the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.