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 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 on 6 April 2022. On 28 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 was to be determined later. For our agriculture sector, this process has set a 10% emission reduction target by 2025 and a 25% emissions reduction target by 2030.
Climate Action Plan 2023 has outlined how these emission reductions can be achieved in the coming years. Through collaboration between my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Climate Action Plan 2023 increases our ambition for efficiency in the sector while also heavily promoting the diversification of agricultural activities. These actions will on one hand improve animal breeding, feeding and finishing and, on the other, will 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 use of chemical fertilizer use to a maximum of 300,000 tonnes by 2030. The actions outlined target a 10% emissions reduction by 2025 and a 25% emissions reduction by 2030 as per the Carbon Budgets and Sectoral Emission Ceilings.
In the meantime, my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine continue to collaborate on reducing our carbon emissions, while also ensuring the security and sustainability of our food production. The challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our agriculture sector while ensuring our food security, is also a key opportunity for Ireland to become a world leader in long-term sustainable food production. I remain confident that our agricultural industry will fully adapt to the opportunities of this transition without compromising on sustainable food production.
