Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 July 2022
894. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which Ireland continues to make progress towards achieving targets for emission reductions in comparison with other agri-food producing countries throughout the globe with particular reference to competing jurisdictions that are doing better or worse than Ireland throughout Europe or globally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39305/22]
View answerThe Climate Act 2021 commits the agriculture sector to reducing emissions by 22-30% by 2030 based on an emissions baseline of 23MT CO2 eq in 2018. A sectoral emission ceiling will be established for the sector, which will place a legal limit on the quantity of CO2 eq emissions the sector can produce over two budget periods.
My position as Minister has been clear from the outset, the sector must play its part in reducing its emissions.
However, I have also been clear that the final target established for the sector is fair and allows the sector to continue to produce the world class meat and milk protein that this country is appreciated for all over the globe.
The Climate Action Plan sets out a range of measures, whether it be reduced chemical nitrogen use, increased use of protected urea, earlier finishing age of our of prime beef cattle, and increased levels of organic productuion which will bring the sector close to its target range. It is anticipated that some new technologies will be needed to bring us into our target range, however, this is consistent with all sectors of the economy.
While international comparisons are valid by comparing the emissions intensity of production, we have legislative targets now in place and we must strive towards achieving these, irrespective of what other countries are doing.
We continue to monitor progress in other countries to ensure that all appropriate technologies are being used in Ireland. The most obvious example of this is the role that protected urea now plays in New Zealand dairy production, something that we can replicate in our livestock production systems here.
