Agricultural and industry interests 'cannot be allowed' to influence climate targets, warns expert

'Often in the agriculture debate, there is a misconception that methane is not as important as CO2.' File picture: David Creedon

Individual sectors and lobby groups in industries including agriculture cannot be allowed to influence climate targets in the future, thereby foisting most of the heavy lifting onto the public, one of Ireland's foremost climate change experts has said.

Dr Hannah Daly, a lecturer in sustainable energy and energy systems modelling at University College Cork (UCC) and a former modeller and analyst at the International Energy Agency (IEA) who has provided advice at the Oireachtas Climate Committee, said methane emissions must not play second fiddle to CO2 in climate targets.