Overview
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (AFF) sectors have identified simple and consistent guidance on emissions estimation and reporting as a priority for Australian Government support on climate change.
Understanding the GHG emissions profile of a business is becoming increasingly important for producers and land managers. The demand for emissions data from farmers is expected to increase, driven by a range of factors including evolving market expectations and supply chains seeking to monitor progress against voluntary climate commitments. Producers who know their emissions are better equipped to engage influentially with customers and financial institutions.
While GHG emissions calculators are available, stakeholders have also raised concerns about inconsistent results, causing uncertainty about which calculators to use or how to begin.
The Australian Government is developing the GHG Emissions Estimation and Reporting Guidelines for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the Guidelines) to improve the quality and consistency of methods and, by extension, the calculation tools entities rely on to estimate and report emissions.
The Guidelines are made up of:
1. Common Requirements Framework
Outlines general rules and guidance for AFF entities to produce an emissions inventory.
2. Methodological Guidance
Provides detailed methods and data sources needed for calculating emissions across different commodities, designed for technical users.
DCCEEW is working collaboratively with the Zero Net Emissions Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre to design and deliver the Common Requirements Framework and has engaged Environmental Accounting Services Pty Ltd to help deliver the Methodological Guidance. The Guidelines are being developed with input from the Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Estimation and Reporting Standards Reference Group.
DCCEEW intends to release the first version of the Guidelines in mid-2026. The Guidelines will be updated regularly to ensure they continue to meet the evolving needs of users.
Consultation on the documents is happening in 2 Tranches.
Tranche 1 contents – Open for public consultation
Common Requirements Framework
Entity-level inventory development and reporting rules for absolute emissions
Methodological Guidance
Emissions estimation methods for beef, sheep, dairy and cropping industries (grains, legumes, sugar, cotton and rice)
Tranche 2 contents – In-development, public consultation planned for early 2026
Common Requirements Framework
General guidance on product-level estimation
Methodological Guidance
Emissions estimation methods for horticulture, viticulture, fisheries, and aquaculture, and Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry
You can now provide feedback on the first tranche of available materials.
