Irish government using wrong data to downplay greenhouse gas emissions from cows

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Irish government is misleading the public about levels of greenhouse gas emissions from the nation’s cows, according to An Taisce - The National Trust for Ireland. In April, agriculture minister Michael Creed told Irish parliament: “in the five-year period 2012-2016, dairy cow numbers have increased by 22 per cent and corresponding milk production by 27 percent while emissions increased just 8 per cent, demonstrating a level of decoupling is occurring.” His point was echoed by other senior officials and ministers in the agriculture department, each indicating that while milk production had been increasing substantially, emission increases had remained low. As cow numbers and milk production went up by 22 and 27 per cent respectively over a four year period ending in 2016, emissions from dairy shot up by 24 per cent. Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar has admitted that he is “not proud of Ireland’s performance” on climate, but agricultural emissions are continuing their steady rise as the national dairy herd increases in size.