A new report says that Government policies will have to change if Ireland is to meet the target of reducing carbon emissions by 20% by 2020.

It argues that the Government should consider seeking a special mechanism at European Union level for managing agricultural emissions within Europe.

The Environment Review 2012 from the Economic and Social Research Institute was published today.

The ESRI suggests Ireland will meet its Kyoto targets for the 2008-2012 period.

However it says longer term targets will be much more difficult.

The Government has committed to bringing non-traded carbon emissions to 20% below the 2005 level by 2020 - but the ESRI predicts that they could in fact rise by as much as 5%.

Carbon emissions from livestock may increase by one million tonnes per annum if the Food Harvest Strategy 2020 is implemented.

The ESRI notes that limiting Irish milk and beef production could lead to production moving to less environmentally efficient producers like Brazil, giving no global environmental benefit.

It argues that the Government should consider seeking a special mechanism at EU level for managing agricultural emissions within Europe.