Sir, – I agree with Barry Walsh (Letters, July 25th) that, with the exception of the Green Party, our politicians appear to be pushing back on potentially difficult decisions in regard to climate action.
The continuing prevarication of Ministers of the Government over the target for reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases from the agricultural sector continues. The Government appears to be considering preferential treatment of the agricultural sector by settling on a 22 per cent reduction, the lowest possible target recommended for that sector by the Climate Change Advisory Council. The highest recommended reduction of 30 per cent, preferred by Minister for Climate Eamon Ryan, is very much lower than the reductions applied to other sectors.
In 2014, Simon Coveney, then minister for agriculture, proposed that the dairy herd could be expanded by 300,000 cows while still “maintaining the existing carbon footprint of the agricultural sector”. An Taisce responded that such an expansion would lead to increased methane emissions. It pointed out that an expansion of this size would also lead to increased nitrate usage, noting that Ireland was “already failing to implement the EU nitrates directive, aimed at protecting freshwater from nitrate pollution”. An Taisce further argued that there would be a commensurate increase in effluent from an additional 300,000 cows, noting the possibility of pollution to Irish water courses by increased flooding due to climate change (“Coveney accused of misleading public over dairy expansion” , News, November 28th, 2014).
Over the past 10 years, dairy herd numbers have increased by 40 per cent. As shown by Harry Magee, emissions from agriculture rose by almost 5 per cent in 2021 compared to 2020. Added to this, more than 50 per cent of watercourses are polluted because of nitrogen and phosphate run-off from farms (“Row over emissions a throwback to 2007 FF-Green Coalition,” Analysis, July 23rd). One assumes that there is a concomitant rise in the pollution of watercourses caused by the effluent of the increased dairy herd.
The agricultural sector is responsible for 37 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in this country. When the range of serious damage caused to the environment by intensive dairy farming is considered, and when the implications of that damage to both humans and to biodiversity is taken into the account, the value of maintaining the dairy herd numbers at its present level should be questioned.
Total exports from Ireland in 2021 were €451 billion. The dairy sector exports for that year “exceeded €5 billion” (“Food and drink exports hit record €13.5bn in 2021 despite Covid and Brexit”, News, January 12th). Dairy exports actually represent a very small fraction of total Irish exports.
Many people in developed countries are cutting back on their consumption of dairy products, because of concern for health and for the environment. For this reason, it is unlikely that the per capita consumption of most dairy products will increase either in Ireland or in other developed countries.
The irreversible damage caused to the environment by intensive dairy farming suggests that a reduction in the dairy herd is desirable. Such a reduction would assist the agricultural sector in meeting the highest recommended emission targets. – Yours, etc,
JEAN JOHNSTON,
Skibbereen,
Co Cork.