Do Agricultural Emissions impact Climate?

The future of Irish agriculture is being threatened by application of incorrect climate warming metrics (specifically, the Global Warming Potential (GWP) metrics) as used by the IPCC and unquestioningly adopted by Irish and European authorities; these out-dated metrics, based on the high GWPs of Methane (CH4) and Nitrous Oxide (N2O), as measured in isolation under dry laboratory conditions, are totally inappropriate.

This argument was summarised in an August 2025 CO2 Coalition letter to the FAO (the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN) linked here; this was complemented by two ICSF papers specifically relating to Agriculture, one being a detailed version linked here, the other a summary linked here, both highlighting the minimal warming impact of agriculture-related Greenhouse Gases.

The latest research by world-leading scientists, Prof Will Happer of Princeton and Prof William van Wijngaarden of York University, shows that the actual GWP impacts of Methane (CH4) and Nitrous Oxide (N2O) are actually insignificant (causing warming of less than 0.1ºC/century at a global level) in real world conditions.

Their detailed research on the relative atmospheric forcings of the various GHGs, and in particular on CH4 and N2O has been definitively confirmed by satellite measurements of radiation from earth. The real-world GWPs of those two GHGs proves that agricultural emissions are effectively irrelevant to climate.

Therefore, there is no scientific basis whatsoever for the curtailment of farming in Ireland based on demonstrably incorrect IPCC GWP metrics. On the contrary, the temperate Irish climate quite uniquely favours open-air natural farming regimes.

The benefits to plant growth of slightly increasing CO2 levels

The increase in CO2 level (from 280ppm in the pre-Industrial era to 425ppm today) is to be welcomed as it enhances photosynthesis and global crop yields. This in turn is helping to alleviate the continuing global under-nourishment of nearly a billion people.  

Conclusion

The ICSF concludes that an immediate Irish agricultural policy re-direction is warranted, favoring truly sustainable growth and stronger global food supply chains.

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