It is likely that the continuing focus on energy, including via the subsequent introduction of legislated reporting, has led to better data monitoring.
Agriculture accounts for around 17% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, of which 10% can be attributed to the dairy industry (less than 2% of the national total).
There are a range of pre- and post-farm gate activities that contribute to the dairy industry’s total carbon footprint. In addition to carbon counted as ‘on-farm’ due to animal husbandry and feed production, dairy farms also emit significant amounts of carbon dioxide through use of fossil fuels and electricity.
Dairy manufacturing represents a relatively small component of the total carbon emissions from the dairy supply chain. The majority of emissions from dairy manufacturing are due to energy consumed through electricity and on-site energy used to generate steam and hot water, followed by transport.
The amount of energy used and therefore the carbon emissions generated depends on the mix of dairy products produced. Milk powder factories consume significantly more energy than fresh milk processors.
The largest dairy manufacturers in Australia are currently participating in the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting scheme, a requirement under Australian Government legislation.
The industry remains engaged in a range of emission intensity reduction initiatives under these Acts, including investing in research to improve manufacturing as well as farming practices and implementation of energy efficiency projects.
Source: Sustainable Dairy