Sir, – In his opinion piece on (“Climate focus on farm emissions misguided”, July 1st), Prof Ray Bates basically argues “that caution over climate projections” should be used and lists numbers of climate parameters which seem to be unexplained, as of yet.
He then continues after sowing his doubt that therefore the Government should not really reduce its agricultural emissions in line with the EU target, because agriculture is so vital to Ireland.
The same could perhaps be argued by the German government in relation to its automotive industry which probably also has the “lowest emissions per unit of output” in the EU. Other EU governments most likely will argue similarly for their vital economic sectors. Where will this all leave us?
The latest IPCC AR5 Working Group 2 Report on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability says "that the impacts of climate change are now unavoidable and will require human communities to adapt to a new normal . . . which requires a paradigm shift in our policies and approaches".
Neither German cars nor Irish milk powder or beef are primarily intended for the markets of the poorest and most vulnerable sector of the world population.
They are intended for the markets which can afford to pay for these products.
In other words markets which aspire to emulate our wasteful lifestyles.
I believe the world can’t afford ever more cars and ever more cows.
We should focus on establishing new mobility concepts and different dietary habits and traditions. – Yours, etc, WILLI KIEFEL Tuam, Co Galway