Proposals put forward by Fine Gael TDs to set a methane reduction target have been described as “damaging” by IFA environment chair Thomas Cooney.

Cooney stressed that methane from livestock was being unfairly targeted in comparison with overall emissions from the transport industry.

“Farmers are tired of being kicked around and scapegoated when it comes to climate action. The fact is transport remains Ireland’s biggest climate problem, not livestock.

"Climate emissions from transport have increased by 137% since 1990, while emissions associated with farming have only increased by 1%,” Cooney said.

Short-lived methane

He continued by saying that methane was a short-lived gas, which remained in the atmosphere for roughly 12 years, in comparison with carbon dioxide which could remain in the environment for up to 200 years.

Cooney pointed out that the agriculture industry is vital to rural Ireland and employed up to 300,000 people, with exports reaching €12.1bn.

“Ireland will this year spend millions of euros buying carbon credits to comply with EU 2020 targets. This expenditure represents a failure to invest in the future-proofing of our rural communities.

"[The] IFA is seeking the full delivery of these proposed measures to begin the process of climate-proofing our rural economy,” he concluded.