Cow-burp emissions trading scheme set for summer 2024 in Canada

OTTAWA — Beef-cattle burps and flatulence are slated to become part of a methane emissions trading scheme cooked up by the Trudeau government.

Environment and Climate Change Canada announced the so-called Reducing Enteric Methane Emissions from Beef Cattle (REME) “protocol” on Dec. 10. Still in draft form, it’s the latest update to Canada’s existing Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System. The cow-burp protocol will allow farmers to earn revenue by registering methane-reduction projects with the system.

How methane cuts will be measured and what it actually means to a farmer’s bottom line is not yet clear. But the government assures producers that REME will offer practical solutions and that technical experts in the ag industry were consulted.

“This is an opportunity for farmers to implement practical solutions to reduce agricultural methane emissions, generate revenue, and harvest a greener future for all,” Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault declared.

The government is seeking public feedback before the planned release of the protocol’s final edition in the summer of 2024. Email creditscompensatoires-offsets@ec.gc.ca by Feb. 6. It’s expected farmers can start registering with the carbon offset system as soon as REME is finalized.

Canada is responsible for about 1.5 % of global greenhouse gas emissions, including methane, with agriculture contributing about 10 % of the Canadian total. When methane is looked at separately, Canadian agriculture accounts for 31 % of Canadian methane emissions. Most of that comes from cow burps, with a smaller portion arising from flatulence.

The Trudeau government has set its sights on methane as 2023 comes to a close. Earlier in December, the government announced a radical 75% methane emissions cut on the oil and gas sector by 2030 — a move Alberta premier Danielle Smith has described as “dangerous and unconstitutional.”