At the United Nations climate summit this week, one focus has been methane — a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. The United States and more than 100 other countries have agreed to cut methane emissions.
But those who have not signed on include a close American ally in the Asia Pacific. Australia is not joining the “global methane pledge.”
That puts the country in a group including China, Russia, India and Iran.
This development was not a shock — Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said last week that Australia would not agree to slash methane emissions because of the impact on farming and livestock.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce used more colorful language to make the same point — telling reporters the only way to reach the goals of the methane pledge would be to “grab a rifle and go out and start shooting your cattle.”
Last week, Australia’s government pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 — although the plan and its intermediate stages have been short on details.
The politics of climate change are combustible in Australia — where the burning of coal is the still leading source of electricity.
Several state governments have pursued renewable energy at a much faster pace than federal leaders.
Before he became prime minister, Morrison famously waved around a lump of coal during a parliamentary debate about renewable energy, saying “don’t be scared, it won’t hurt you.”
Opposition leaders are urging more aggressive pursuit of specific emission targets and deadlines — while Morrison faces a different kind of deadline.
He needs to call for national elections by May.
