Ireland Divested From Fossil Fuels, But They’re Failing Emission Standard Goals Because They Won’t Quit Cheese!

Ireland has recently stepped up as a progressive leader in the fight against Climate change with the announcement that they will be the first country in the world to divest from fossil fuels. Eamonn Meehan, Executive Director of Irish environmental lobby Trocaire, said the new bill was “both substantive and symbolic,” explaining, “It will stop public money being invested against the public interest, and it sends a clear signal nationally and globally that action on the climate crisis needs to be accelerated urgently, starting with the phase-out of fossil fuels.”

And while this move is certainly a positive one, it is, in large part, a symbolic one, and Ireland still has a lot to do to meet emissions standards. For starters, it would be wise to begin decreasing the number of cattle raised for meat and dairy.

As reported by the Climate change Advisory Council, “Instead of achieving the required reduction of 1 million tonnes per year in carbon dioxide emissions – consistent with the National Policy Position – Ireland is currently increasing emissions at a rate of 2 million tonnes per year.” Energy industries, transportation, and agriculture are credited for this.

When it comes to agriculture in Ireland, carbon dioxide emissions are up by a half million tonnes, having increased by 2.7 percent in 2016, and it is predicted to only rise higher. What is causing this? A removal of quotas in dairy production could likely be the root of the problem. The Council explained, “Animal numbers, animal types and farm management are fundamental drivers of emissions within the sector. In addition, much of our agricultural land is managed to produce fodder for the animals, leading to emissions associated with nutrient management and the use of nitrogen fertilizers.”

According to the report, since 2011, the number of dairy animals raised in Ireland has shot up by 25.1 percent! That is 270,000 more animals. The number of non-dairy cattle has risen by 8.9 percent since 2011, an increase of 475,000 more animals.

Although it is incredible that Ireland has made a commitment to divest from fossil fuels in an effort to fight Climate change, standing as inspiration to the rest of the world, we do hope that the country also directs more attention to the undeniable problems animal agriculture wreaks on the environment and makes changes accordingly.

Animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire transportation sector combined, and the methane emitted from animals’ bodily functions is significantly more harmful than carbon dioxide. Not to mention, the gross air and water pollution from industrialized animal agriculture contaminates our environment and makes people dangerously ill, even leading to premature deaths. To learn more about how you can help become part of the solution to heal our Earth by making simple food choices, be sure to check out the Eat for the Planet book!

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