“Without an overarching policy framework for agriculture that drives emissions down the Government will not be able to meet its commitment to cut overall national emissions by 51 per cent by 2030,” she said. The committee is examining how agri-food emissions can be cut in line with national targets for emission reductions by 2030. Currently, he said, “there are few technical and management options available to farmers to reduce methane emissions, which implies that a reduction in animal numbers will be necessary”. But it does not have to be reduced to zero.”Reverse global warmingRising methane emissions add significantly to global warming but continued emissions at a broadly stable level would sustain rather than add to global warming that has already occurred. Sustained reductions in methane emissions, however, reverse global warming and cool the planet from existing levels, he said.

Source: The Irish Times June 15, 2021 19:18 UTC