Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
1221. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the elements of the CAP programme which have as a key objective the reduction in carbon equivalent emissions from agriculture; the targeted reduction in CO2 equivalents in respect of each; the overall cost of the programme; and the system of verification of carbon reduction that will be established at farm level or at programme level. [52899/21]
View answerThe Department is currently working with other Government Departments and agencies to finalise Ireland’s draft CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027, in respect of which an overall budget of €9.83 billion has recently been agreed. As such, it is too early to state the specific targeted reduction in CO2 equivalents that each proposed measure will achieve.
However, the measures are designed to achieve multi-functional benefits in the areas of climate, biodiversity, and water, soil and air quality, and will align with, and directly contribute to, achievement of Government policy in these areas.
Proposed measures with the key objective of reducing carbon equivalent emissions include the following:
- Under baseline Conditionality, new requirements from 2024 will help to reduce emissions from peat-based agricultural land.
- New Eco-Schemes will encourage and reward tree planting, expansion of non-productive areas and landscape features, extensive livestock production and lower chemical nitrogen usage.
- A new Agri-Environmental and Climate Measure will help to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions through appropriate management of grassland (especially on peat-based soils), appropriate peatland drainage management, and the planting of trees and hedgerows.
- A significant increase in the land area under organic production, and under protein crop production.
In addition, the proposed Straw Incorporation Measure will enhance the carbon pool in arable soils.
In due course, information on uptake levels for specific measures will be made available for scheme evaluation and to the Environmental Protection Agency. This will ensure effective monitoring as well as allowing national greenhouse gas inventories to be updated to reflect progress to reduce emissions.
There will also be a requirement to complement CAP support through other Government and industry initiatives, and, where appropriate, through enhanced regulation.
