I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 197 together.
The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 commits Ireland to a legally binding target of a climate neutral economy no later than 2050 and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 51% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. Following the process set out in the Act, a carbon budget programme proposed by the Climate Change Advisory Council was adopted by the Oireachtas in April 2022. In July 2022, the Government approved Sectoral Emission Ceilings for both the first and second carbon budget periods, (i.e. 2021-2025 and 2026-2030), with the exception the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector, which will be determined later this year. For our agriculture sector, this process has set a 10% emissions reduction target by 2025 and a 25% emissions reduction target by 2030.
The 2023 Climate Action Plan has outlined how these emissions reductions can be achieved in the coming years, increasing our ambition for efficiency in the sector while also promoting the diversification of agricultural activities. These actions will improve animal breeding, feeding and finishing, and will also encourage farmers to diversify into more sustainable sectors, including organics, tillage and biomethane production. Targets include expanding the organic sector to 450,000 hectares, growing the tillage sector to 400,000 hectares and construction of up to 200 Anaerobic Digestion plants. It will also reduce our chemical fertiliser use to a maximum of 300,000 tonnes by 2030.
My Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine continue to collaborate on reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, while also ensuring the security and sustainability of our food production. There is a significant opportunity for Ireland to become a world leader in long-term sustainable food production. I remain confident that our family farms will fully exploit the opportunities of this transition to increase farm incomes without compromising on sustainable food production.
