Campaigners have criticised the outcome of the UN climate negotiations, saying the deal has not gone far enough.

Ireland was on track last night to get a deal that will cut the cost of action against climate change, although environmentalists warned it threatens global food security.

Government proposals to reduce Ireland’s carbon emissions have been widely criticised for lacking targets, a clear vision and for potentially being too costly for businesses and households.

Ireland’s huge numbers of cattle and sheep — more than twice the human population — are the country’s single biggest producer of greenhouse gases and make it almost impossible to reach EU targets.