EU Livestock Strategy Raises Concerns Over Methane Emissions from Meat and Dairy Farms

The European Commission released its Livestock Strategy last week, a set of policy recommendations aimed at supporting the livestock sector. Climate advocates are warning that the strategy could lock in current levels of methane emissions from meat and dairy production instead of pushing for reductions. A key point of contention is the strategy's framing of livestock methane as 'biogenic methane,' a term critics say could be used to justify stabilizing emissions rather than cutting them. Livestock accounts for over 65 percent of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, mostly from cattle digestion and manure. Methane is a potent but short-lived greenhouse gas that warms the atmosphere much faster than carbon dioxide. Agriculture is the largest source of methane worldwide, and livestock makes up about 60 percent of that. The article argues the strategy focuses on protecting farmer livelihoods over meeting climate goals.