Climate Change: Estimation of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases from Agriculture and Strategies for their Reduction

ERTDI Report 56 (F. O'Mara et al)

Summary: Synthesis Report of the ERTDI-funded project: 2000-LS-5.1.1

Summary

This research project was carried out jointly by UCD and Teagasc against the background of greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland being in excess of the amount permissible under the Kyoto Protocol (68.46 million t of carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalent emitted in 2004, vs 63 million t allowed under Kyoto). In Ireland, agriculture is the source of a much larger share of greenhouse gas emissions (28%) than in most other developed countries due to the importance of agriculture in the economy. The key objectives of this project were to provide information to allow a more accurate inventory of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions (i.e. move as much of the inventory as possible from a Tier 1 methodology to a Tier 2 methodology), and to advise on possible practices to mitigate these emissions. Specifically, it was proposed to:

• Develop new emission factors for methane (CH₄) from enteric fermentation and manure management for the Irish cattle herd to allow the inventory move to a Tier 2 methodologyIdentify practices that could reduce CH₄ emissions from the cattle herd
• Provide information on nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from grazed grassland with particular emphasis on the effect of nitrogen (N) fertiliser inputs and to evaluate the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) default values in the light of data generated.