Wildfires ignite infection risks, by weakening the body’s immune defences and spreading bugs in smoke 
Fertile land for growing vegetables is at risk — but a scientific discovery could turn the tide 
Pentagon and Anthropic Clash Over AI Safeguards in National Security Use 
Philippine Economy Slows in Late 2025, Raising Expectations of Further Rate Cuts 
Panama Supreme Court Voids CK Hutchison Port Concessions, Raising Geopolitical and Trade Concerns 
Elon Musk’s SpaceX Explores Merger Options With Tesla or xAI, Reports Say 
Meta Stock Surges After Q4 2025 Earnings Beat and Strong Q1 2026 Revenue Outlook Despite Higher Capex 
Ukraine minerals deal: the idea that natural resource extraction can build peace has been around for decades 
Amazon Stock Dips as Reports Link Company to Potential $50B OpenAI Investment 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
Indonesia Stocks Face Fragile Sentiment After MSCI Warning and Market Rout 
NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Amazon Eye Massive OpenAI Investment Amid $100B Funding Push 
Drug pollution in water is making salmon take more risks – new research 
Nvidia Confirms Major OpenAI Investment Amid AI Funding Race 
In a bold move to combat climate change, the Irish government will cull 200,000 cows over the next three years at a cost of €600 million, part of a broader initiative to reduce agricultural emissions by 25% by 2030. The decision has sparked debates on its potential implications for the farming sector and global warming.
According to Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 38% of the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2021 came from the agriculture sector, mostly from nitrous oxide from the use of nitrogen fertilizer and manure management and methane in livestock.
The Irish government is hoping to reduce agricultural emissions by 25% by 2030. In March, Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, said that one of the dairy food division group’s recommendations as part of its ‘Climate Action Plan’ for 2023” was to explore a voluntary dairy reduction scheme. The Minister expects to receive a more detailed plan by the end of the year and set up in early 2024.
Irish Farmers’ Association president, Tim Cullinan, said that the plan based on Food Vision Dairy Group’s report in October last year would “further erode” farmer trust in the government. Irish Cullinan also warned that reducing dairy or beef production in the country would result in ‘carbon leakage’ as production will be moved to other countries with a higher carbon footprint. This is expected to enhance global warming.
Irish politician Peadar Tóibín said that the high number of cattle that could be “culled” by 2025 poses an “incredible threat to the farming sector.”
McConalogue, in a statement on Food Vision Dairy Group’s report in October last year, said that the group had discussed the calculation of the current emissions inventory, pathways to reductions in nitrous oxide emissions, and stabilizing and reducing emissions.
According to the provisional Irish June Livestock Survey released by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Ireland has about 2.5 million dairy and beef cows.
With around 90% of the produce being exported, cattle and dairy make up about two-thirds of the agricultural output of the nation.
Photo: Natalie Warren/Unsplash
