Carbon emission targets are unfair to agriculture, warns Bergin

CARBON emission reduction targets are deeply flawed in relation to farming as they take no account of the ability of grassland to absorb carbon, according to IFA Climate Change spokesman Jer Bergin.

Mr Bergin has criticised the position being adopted by the European parliament at the UN climate change talks which opened yesterday in Cancún, Mexico, and which run until December 10. The EU is aiming to cut carbon emissions by 30%, within a timeframe likely to be agreed at the Cancún talks.

Mr Bergin said this position is potentially damaging to Ireland’s economic recovery, and that the target is based on flawed calculations of greenhouse gas emissions.