Smith admits difficulty in achieving greenhouse gas emission cuts

MAKING significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture will be very difficult, Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith admitted yesterday.

“Most of our methane emissions come from our cattle herd,” he told the Teagasc REPS conference in Tullamore, Co Offaly.

Mr Smith said most people acknowledge that climate change is probably the most serious challenge facing the world today, and concerted international action is needed. He said the Government is committed to delivering Ireland’s contribution to the target of a 20% reduction in the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.