Ireland’s climate targets problem: livestock numbers need to be reduced, say analysts

Irish farm [image credit: climatenewsnetwork.net]

Yet another climate folly induced by arbitrary targets. As usual they conveniently forget that most of their so-called ‘greenhouse’ gas is water vapour, which depends on the temperature. There’s so little methane in the atmosphere it has to be measured in parts per billion, but alarmism has taken over.
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In order for legally binding climate targets to be met, and agricultural subsidies to be granted, the number of livestock on the island needs to go down says Buzz.

The size of herds both North and South of the border is being scrutinised. It is likely both cow and sheep herds on both sides of the border will need to be cut – and soon.

In a nutshell

Since 2015, when dairy quotas in the European Union were abolished, the number of cows has increased in both Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Data released last week by the Department of Agriculture shows that the national herd stands at 6.66 million head of cattle, and while dairy cows have increased their number, the amount cattle reared for beef has decreased.

At the end of December 2020, there were more than 5.5 million sheep in Ireland.

Northern Ireland, also with a big farming sector, has a significant national herd.

According to the North’s Agricultural Census 2021, total cattle numbers in Northern Ireland are just under 1.7 million. Northern Ireland has just under two million sheep.

However it is likely that both North and South, the number of cows and sheep will have to be cut in order to meet climate targets.
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Methane

The letter from the European Commission also says that growth in the dairy sector has had “very substantial implications for agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, for quality of air, water and soil, and for biodiversity”.

About one-third of human-caused methane emissions come from livestock and most of that is from cattle.

When it comes to methane, the second-most harmful greenhouse gas, Ireland emits far far more than its fair share. This is due to our large pastoral agriculture sector.

Full article here.