Talks between the party leaders of the three coalition parties in Ireland have again ended without an agreement on reducing nitrogen emissions from the agricultural sector. However, they agree that total emissions across Ireland must be halved in the coming years, but politicians have not yet agreed on how to divide this reduction among the different sectors.
Since the 2020 elections, Ireland has been governed by a coalition of liberals, Christian democrats, and Greens. Ireland’s total nitrogen emissions must be reduced by 51% over eight years and achieve net zero emissions by 2050 to remain within the coalition agreement of the three parties. For Irish agriculture, this could mean a reduction target somewhere between 22 and 30 percent.
Prime Minister MicheĂ¡l Martin, Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan were unable to break the deadlock again in Dublin. It is now unlikely that an agreement will be reached before the last cabinet meeting before the summer recess. Other sources do not rule out the possibility that the issue will be postponed until September.
Agriculture in Ireland is responsible for 37.5% of the total greenhouse gas emissions, by far the largest of any sector. Emissions from the sector rose by 3% last year, and for the second consecutive year, emissions from agriculture increased.
The causes cited include the use of nitrogen fertilizer, a higher number of dairy cows, and an increase in milk production. The number of dairy cows has risen for the eleventh consecutive year, while milk production per cow also increased by 2.5%.
Earlier this week, Irish Prime Minister Martin said that Ireland "must balance the problem of food security with the climate problem".