The report is a follow-up to the FAO's 2006 report, 'Livestock's Long Shadow', which estimated the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from livestock farming across the world. It assesses the global dairy industry's contribution specifically and covers the production of dairy products from the farm to the retailer. It shows that:

• Global milk production, processing and transportation contribute just 2.7% to the world's total anthropogenic (ie those caused by humans) GHG emissions
• When emissions relating to meat production from dairy-related cattle are included, the figure is 4%
• Milk produced in Western Europe, including the UK, has one of the smallest carbon footprints (around 1.5 kg of CO₂ equivalents per kg of milk produced, compared with a global average of 2.4 kg)

The International Dairy Federation encouraged the FAO to focus on dairy first, before other livestock species, which are currently being researched. The report represents the first step of a longer term relationship between the two organisations that will see the dairy industry seek to reduce its GHG emissions further.

Ken Boyns, director of DairyCo, the levy-funded, not-for-profit organisation that works on behalf of British dairy farmers says: "This report gives the global dairy industry a benchmark from which to reduce its Greenhouse Gas emissions further. British dairy farmers have already done much to reduce emissions from their farms. However, we are not complacent and are taking further action through initiatives such as the Milk Roadmap."

Hayley Campbell Gibbons, NFU chief dairy adviser, said: "I'm extremely pleased that the FAO has published a report which finally draws a line in the sand under the generic emission figures which have dogged the livestock industry for so long.

"The dairy report is an important step forward in providing more detailed and sophisticated information on regional differences in emissions and between different agricultural sectors.  In doing so the FAO recognises that some countries are performing better than others when it comes to assessing the environmental impact of meat and milk production and that British dairy farmers are already working hard to improve their environmental hoof print.

"We have always known that because of our climate, geography and knowledge British dairy farmers are ideally suited to produce dairy products in the most efficient and environmentally sustainable way. With the demand for dairy products growing at a rapid rate this report proves that increasing dairy and meat production in those parts of the world, like the UK, where we are able to produce food with a lower environmental impact makes sense.  Climate change is a global issue that needs a global solution and our dairy farmers are part of that solution".