More than 40 international scientists have asked Ireland not to adopt a controversial greenhouse gas assessment method that would let the country away with softer climate targets.The 42 signatories to the statement come from 33 universities and institutes in 10 countries, including 23 at professor level. Six are from Ireland. Their message is targeted at Ireland, New Zealand and several other countries with high methane output – mainly from agriculture – that have signalled a move towards the new method. The scientists express “deep concern” that countries are trying to “redefine climate metrics and targets” in a way that would leave global climate action efforts “undermined”. The new approach assesses methane differently from carbon dioxide, the most common and long-lasting greenhouse gas. [ Ireland second highest in EU for greenhouse gas emissions per personOpens in new window ]Methane has a much more powerful warming effect than carbon dioxide, but also a much shorter lifespan in the atmosphere. Agri-lobbyists argue its long-term contribution to the increase in global temperature has been overstated, and that a substantial output of methane can continue while maintaining what is termed “temperature neutrality” or “no additional warming”. Most scientists argue the short-term warming caused by methane fuels extreme-weather disasters and drives faster ice-sheet melt and sea-level rise, which will have very long-term impacts regardless of whether the gas leaves the atmosphere. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the architects of the landmark Paris Agreement on climate action and the more recent Global Methane Pledge, support the need for dramatic and immediate cuts in methane. [ Ireland urged not to follow New Zealand in changing methane targetsOpens in new window ]If Ireland adopts the temperature-neutrality approach, less stringent cuts in emissions will be sought, easing the pressure on agriculture.Using conventional accounting, an additional 9 million tonnes of greenhouse gases will need to be cut over a five-year period – the equivalent of the annual emissions of almost 1 million people. The statement by the 42 scientists acknowledges the approach is “rooted in legitimate scientific methodologies”, but says it also “facilitates weakening ambition”. “Under ‘temperature neutrality’, a country that has spent decades dumping methane into the atmosphere is treated as climate-neutral if it only nudges its emissions down,” said Prof Paul Behrens of Oxford University. “That is like a factory claiming it has no impact because they are pouring slightly less sewage than previously into an already toxic river.” Dr Johnathan Foley, director of global climate solutions NGO Project Drawdown, said: “Curbing methane emissions – especially from the food and agricultural sectors – is a critical part of stopping climate change. [ Irish dairy and beef sectors have the tools to tackle methane emissionsOpens in new window ]“With nearly one-third of current warming driven by methane emissions, and the food system being the largest contributor, we simply cannot ignore this any longer.” Róisín Moriarty, research fellow at University College Cork, said: “A temperature-neutrality/ approach to climate target-setting amounts to backsliding on Ireland’s commitment to the Paris Agreement, and it is not a reflection of highest possible ambition.” Criticism of the temperature-neutrality approach also centres on fairness. It allows wealthy countries that are traditional high-emitters to make relatively small reductions in methane, while preventing a developing country that may need to grow its agricultural sector for food security from increasing its methane output even marginally. Ireland’s independent Climate Change Advisory Council has recommended the temperature-neutrality approach, but the Government has yet to make a final decision on it. The 2026 version of the national Climate Action Plan and the next set of “carbon budgets” or emission limits to apply post-2030 have been held up for months while the deliberations continue. A spokesperson for Minister for Climate Darragh O’Brien said he “notes the extensive feedback received to date from a wide range of experts and stakeholders on the carbon budget proposals, including on the issue of temperature neutrality”. “These are important factors which are being given due consideration in the context of the process for developing the Minister’s finalised recommendations to Government on the next budget programme.”