Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Climate Change

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced GHG emissions by 57% since 2005 (from 130.7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents to 55.7 Mt CO2-e in 2017).

Social Achievements

• Not disclosed

Governance Achievements

• Not disclosed

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Mitigation Strategies

• Implementing a Carbon Neutral by 2030 (CN30) initiative focusing on emissions avoidance and carbon storage.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement

• Not disclosed

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Not disclosed

Transition Risks

• Not disclosed

Opportunities

• Not disclosed

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Null

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Low and zero carbon red meat products

Awards & Recognition

• Not disclosed

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environmental
• Social
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Significant advances are being made in the management of soil degradation, on-farm biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution in agricultural landscapes.

Social Achievements

• Not disclosed

Governance Achievements

• Not disclosed

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Continued productivity gains (including labour productivity) are required to deal with competitive terms of trade and an ageing labour force in agriculture
• Variability in returns to agriculture has increased significantly due to increased climate variability, volatile exchange rates and fluctuations in market demand.
• The trend to fewer, larger farms continues in response to the need for improved competitiveness.
• Rural industries must continually grow and diversify exports in response to structural change in emerging economies.
• Access to quality production resources (arable land, reliable water) and proximity to markets remain major factors in planning for increased production capacity.

Mitigation Strategies

• Increased access to new or under-utilised land and water resources and highly productive farming systems focussed on contemporary market needs.
• Significant, ongoing innovation effort (RD&E) to improve productivity, profitability and environmental sustainability is also essential.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement

• Not disclosed

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• droughts, floods, bushfires

Transition Risks

• Not disclosed

Opportunities

• Not disclosed

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Null

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Not disclosed

Awards & Recognition

• Not disclosed

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Animal welfare
• Environmental sustainability
• Supply chain integrity

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced CO2 emissions by 56.7% in Australia's beef industry since 2005
• Increased cattle properties covered by documented biosecurity plans from 25% to 90%
• Improved pain relief usage from 15% to 21%

Social Achievements

• Launched Back to Business program providing support to 102 bushfire-affected producers
• Launched new podcasts (Feedback and On the ground)
• Developed 11 sustainability-focused videos viewed 63,350 times

Governance Achievements

• Independent performance review returned positive results
• Launched new Strategic Plan 2025
• Maintained high levels of compliance with relevant regulations

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Drought, bushfires, and floods
• COVID-19 disruptions to supply chains and markets
• Market volatility
• Non-tariff barriers to trade

Mitigation Strategies

• Back to Business program
• COVID-19 resources and market insights hubs
• Global marketing strategy adaptation
• Collaboration with government and industry stakeholders to address trade barriers
• Development of tools and technologies for reducing emissions and improving sustainability

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Drought
• Bushfires
• Floods

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Best Animal Care
• Economic Resilience
• Environmental Stewardship
• People and Community

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced net CO2e emissions by 78.2% since 2005 (2021 data)
• 81% of producers adopting practices to improve soil water retention (2023 data)
• Almost 160 million hectares of grazing land actively managed for biodiversity (2023 data)
• Carbon sequestered in vegetation on beef cattle properties increased to 31.31 Mt CO2e in 2021
• 100% compliance with antibiotic Maximum Residue Limits for the second consecutive year (2022-23 data)

Social Achievements

• 13% increase in live cattle exports in 2023, with mortality rate at a record low of 0.05%
• Beef industry contributed $20.1 billion to Australia’s GDP in 2021-22, increasing by 49% between 2021 and 2023
• 187,916 people directly employed in the red meat and livestock industry in 2021/22, supporting an additional 245,473 jobs

Governance Achievements

• Development of five Australian Beef Sustainability Goals to enhance industry commitment to continual improvement

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Eastern States Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) dropped by almost 40% between July and September 2023 due to dry seasonal outlook and high stock numbers
• El Niño weather event affected areas of eastern Australia in the second half of 2023, decreasing healthy groundcover to 57.41%
• Ongoing emergency animal disease risk in near-neighbour countries creating uncertainty
• Prolonged summer temperatures and high humidity leading to heat stress events
• Deteriorating security in the Middle East causing delays and logistical issues affecting exports
• Delays in the release of key data sets making it difficult to provide updates

Mitigation Strategies

• Feedlot sector actively working with stakeholders to respond to heat stress events
• Industry working to enhance biosecurity measures to mitigate animal disease risks
• Australian government providing support for biosecurity projects in Indonesia
• Industry investing in research and development to improve drought resilience
• Industry working to improve data collection and reporting

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program
• National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme (NFAS)
• Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS)

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Drought
• Floods
• Heatwaves
• Bushfires

Transition Risks

• Changes in consumer demand
• International regulations (e.g., EUDR)

Opportunities

• Development of drought-resilient practices
• Carbon sequestration opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards, GRI 13: Sector Standard for Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fishing

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 2 (Zero Hunger)
• 5 (Gender Equality)
• 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
• 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
• 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
• 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)
• 10 (Reduced Inequalities)
• 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
• 13 (Climate Action)
• 14 (Life Below Water)
• 15 (Life on Land)
• 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

The ABSF addresses these SDGs through its priorities and initiatives.