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Methane should be excluded from proposed carbon targets on agricultural emissions, according to a number of Fine Gael TDs.
Agriculture accounts for roughly a third of agriculture emissions.
Methane is one of the main gases associated with heating the earth’s atmosphere with 85% of Ireland’s methane emissions coming from livestock, according to research by RumenStability.
Emission target
Members of the Climate Action Committee, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD, Senators Tim Lombard and Michelle Mulherin, have proposed copying a New Zealand approach to meeting a Net Zero emission target by 2050.
“New Zealand, like the EU, are aiming for net zero carbon emissions by 2050. However, methane has been excluded and assigned a separate target for reduction by between 24 and 47 per cent by 2050,” Deputy Corcoran Kennedy said.
This is about recognising our herd profile and ensuring that as we move towards a greener climate that rural Ireland experiences a just transition
She added that this would be a sensible approach given that Ireland had a similar reliance on agriculture as New Zealand.
Under the current Climate Action Plan agriculture will have to reduce its emissions by up to 15% by 2030.
“This is about recognising our herd profile and ensuring that as we move towards a greener climate that rural Ireland experiences a just transition,” Senator Tim Lombard said.
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