The world’s leading climate scientists are calling for significant and fast methane reductions to help reduce climate change in a new report.
According to the United Nations study from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), methane – the second biggest greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide – is responsible for around 30 per cent of global warming.
Scientists say there has been a faster growth in atmospheric concentration of methane between 2014 – 2019, which is driven by emissions from the fossil fuels and agriculture sectors.
The report states that methane emissions have increased due to the growing number of global livestock.
Farming organisations have responded saying while methane may be more potent, it dissipates from the atmosphere within 10 to 20 years unlike carbon dioxide which stays in the atmosphere for decades.
The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) said to have a chance of stopping the effects of climate change and global warming, limits on using fossil fuel and ending deforestation are needed.
IFA president Tim Cullinan said: “The report highlights the need to reduce methane and will continue to work to reduce methane emissions in agriculture, but it is vital the Irish Government puts the structure in place to support farmers on this journey.”
LSL News.