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Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020

Tuesday, 3 November 2020

Questions (54)

Paul Murphy

Question:

54. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to misleading claims being made regarding the environmental effects of methane from livestock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33419/20]

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Written answers

The Programme for Government clearly states that we are committed to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030 (a 51% reduction over the decade) and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This 2050 target being set in law by the Climate Action Bill is to achieve a ‘climate neutral economy,’ that balances emissions and removals within the State, by the end of 2050.

This is a very ambitious target, and every sector, including Agriculture will contribute to meeting this target by implementing policy changes.

The Programme for Government recognises the ‘special economic and social role of agriculture and the distinct characteristics of biogenic methane, as described by the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’. This does not let agriculture off the hook. Emissions from agriculture cannot get to zero. But we will have to work with farmers to reduce emissions and maximise sequestration, and we will have to configure future supports to deliver on those objectives.

The target of a “climate neutral economy” by 2050 is a long-term ambition but will require us to start working now to meet it. The Bill sets out several tools to ensure we are on the correct trajectory including a series of Carbon Budgets, Annual revisions to the Climate Action Plan and a series of National Long-Term Climate Action Strategies.

At Farm level, Teagasc has developed the Green House Gas Marginal Abatement Cost Curve which sets out 14 individual mitigation measures for Irish agriculture.

Responsibility for maintaining the national inventory for Greenhouse Gas emissions in Ireland rests with the Environmental Protection Agency operating under the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The Environmental Protection Agency reports on emissions from all sectors of our economy on an annual basis and the metrics used in calculating Greenhouse Gas emissions across all sectors are based in EU legislation.

My Department’s work on climate change and greenhouse gasses that are a product of agriculture in Ireland is based on the best available science and in particular focuses on the work produced by the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the output from validated research in this area.

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